Chris Woakes has spoken of the emotional toll and physical pain that accompanied his courageous decision to bat with a dislocated shoulder in England’s dramatic six-run defeat to India in the final Test at The Oval.
Despite being ruled out of the match after injuring his shoulder on the opening day, the 36-year-old all-rounder emerged to bat at number 11 on the final morning, with England just 17 runs short of a historic 3-1 series win.
Though he didn’t face a single delivery, Woakes ran four critical runs in support of last man Gus Atkinson before Atkinson was bowled—bringing India victory and squaring the series 2-2.
“I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t try,” Woakes said. “You just know you’re part of something bigger. It’s not just about you—it’s about your team-mates, your country, everyone watching. You feel a duty.”
Woakes, the only England pace bowler to feature in all five Tests of the series, dislocated his shoulder while fielding on the first evening. Though quickly ruled out of the match by team medics, Woakes kept himself ready to bat, even practicing in the nets using a left-handed stance to protect his injured arm.
“I tried batting right-handed, but it was agony,” he explained. “So we worked out that standing left-handed with my good arm on top was the only way I could block anything if I needed to.”
Wearing an arm sling and visibly in pain, Woakes’ appearance at the crease on day five brought a roar from the Oval crowd. Some security personnel had even entered the field assuming the match was over when the ninth wicket fell, only for Woakes to defy the pain barrier and walk out.
His first sprint between the wickets—a bye—triggered obvious distress. “The first run was the worst. Instinct just took over. I worried I’d popped the shoulder out again. That’s why I tore off the helmet and glove to check it.”
The Warwickshire veteran ran three more times in a 16-minute vigil before Atkinson’s dismissal sealed England’s fate.
Now facing an uncertain recovery timeline, Woakes’ involvement in this winter’s Ashes series is in doubt.
“Of course, I’d rather be on the front pages for taking five wickets or scoring a hundred,” he admitted. “But the love from the public has helped. It’s just surreal to go from preparing for one final push to ending up on a physio’s table, wondering about the future.”
