How Chris Woakes overcame injury to deliver for England at crucial moment
It was a remarkable scene to end a remarkable series. On Friday morning. Chris Woakes was ruled out for the rest of the fifth Test match at The Oval on Friday morning. Three days later, though, he walked out to the crease with his left arm in a sling beneath his jumper, prepared to bat one-handed and on his non-dominant side, as England needed just 17 runs to win.
Woakes stepped out of the dressing-room from the Bedser Stand. The drama and tension of the series decider only enhanced after this move, making the moment as moving as Rishabh Pant's hobble walk to the crease in Manchester with a fractured foot.
England are yet to provide an official statement on Woakes injury
England are yet to give an official statement, but it is believed that Woakes dislocated his shoulder while diving in the field on the opening day of the Test. He is set to consult a specialist this week to assess the severity of the injury. Woakes has been ruled out for the rest of the summer and is already a major doubt for the opening Ashes Test in Perth on November 21.
With the final delivery of the 83rd over, Prasidh Krishna bowled England's No. 10 Josh Tongue, saving Woakes from facing a ball and allowing Atkinson to keep the strike. Woakes was clearly uncomfortable, though, as he grimaced after each run and asked umpire Ahsan Raza for assistance when his sling came loose during a bye.
Woakes would have been replaced immediately following his injury on Thursday night in most other sports, but cricket is different. On Saturday, instead, he remained in the dressing room and observed England's three-man attack in action. He went to the indoor school for a practice batting session on Sunday afternoon as the chase continued.
Woakes had a throwdown session before walking out to bat on final day
Woakes initially tried to hold the bat normally while facing a few throwdowns, but as the tempo increased, the pain became unbearable. He then adopted a left-hander's stance and began batting with his left arm back in a sling. In addition to providing him with control over his 'top' hand, this helped him keep his injured shoulder as far away from the ball as possible.
On Monday, Woakes required help from England physio Ben Davies to get padded up and had to improvise with his gear. He wore two small arm guards on his right arm and added as much protection as possible to his left, which was tucked under a jumper to keep it stable.
Mohammed Siraj became furious when Woakes fought his way through for a bye at the end of his opening over at the crease. 'Nahin bola tu?' After landing his wide yorker and watching Dhruv Jurel's underarm throw miss the stumps, he asked Shubman Gill, 'Didn't you tell him?' Woakes, however, had bigger concerns, grimacing in pain and holding his left arm.
Woakes managed to take off his helmet to put his left arm back in place. He asked Raza for help after realising that he won't be able to put his glove back on alone. As Woakes took a deep breath and prepared himself to stand at the non-striker's end once more, the packed fifth-day crowd began to grasp the full extent of what he was enduring.
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