England captain Ben Stokes paid an emotional tribute to Chris Woakes, who batted with one arm in a sling during England’s agonising seven-run defeat to India in the fifth and final Test at the Kia Oval. The result sees the thrilling five-match series end in a 2-2 draw.
Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder on day one, returned to the crease in visible pain, his right arm strapped in a sling, as England chased a final-day miracle. His courage encapsulated the grit that defined the entire series, where multiple players from both sides battled through serious injuries.
“That never-say-die, never-back-down attitude we’ve installed in the group nearly paid off,” Stokes said. “Woakesy going out there in that condition says everything. He was in a lot of discomfort just running between the wickets. But he never questioned it. He just said: ‘I wouldn’t do anything else.’”
Stokes himself missed the final Test due to a shoulder injury but watched on as a severely depleted England side came painfully close to pulling off another famous chase.
He admitted that Woakes’ injury was a turning point. “It took, I don’t know, half a second for a shoulder to pop out and everything changed,” said Stokes. “But we also dropped six catches in India’s second innings. Those moments cost us. That said, when we won at Headingley, they dropped chances too. That’s the game.”
Despite the defeat, Stokes praised the younger bowlers who stepped up in Woakes’ absence.
“With Woakesy out, the responsibility fell on Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton. Their roles changed completely. They had to dig deep, and they did. Some guys have discovered things about themselves – in a very positive way.”
On the opposing side, Indian captain Shubman Gill, who scored 754 runs in the series, reflected philosophically on the rollercoaster contest. “This series showed how the game of life works,” he said. “There are highs and lows. The key is to stay balanced – whether you score runs or not, win or lose.”
Gill hailed India’s belief on the final morning. “Once Brook was out, we knew we had our opening. This team believes – whenever there’s a door ajar, we can break through it.”
Stokes concluded, “We didn’t get the series win, but this was a fantastic series to be part of. For the game, and for the fans, it’s been pretty special.”
