England seamer Chris Woakes has been ruled out for the rest of the ongoing fifth and final Test match against India at The Oval. On Day 1, Chris Woakes dived near the boundary rope to stop a boundary but ended up injuring his shoulder badly.
Woakes clutched his shoulder, and he was seen in considerable pain. The physio rushed in for early checkups, and the star all-rounder was later seen leaving the field with his arm supported by a sling.
Ahead of Day 2, the ECB confirmed that Woakes won’t return to bowl or bat in the remainder of the ongoing final Test, which means England would play with 10 players against India. ECB noted that medical experts will monitor his recovery, and a further call will be taken after the match.
Chris Woakes set to miss Ashes 2025-26 after serious shoulder injury
Now, a Telegraph report suggested that Chris Woakes is likely to miss out on England’s tour of Australia later this year for the Ashes 2025-26 after suffering a serious shoulder injury at The Oval. Scans confirmed the damage was worse than expected, confirming a major dislocation in his left shoulder.
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The medical experts believe that Woakes might need surgery to fix the dislocated shoulder. If the fast bowler goes under the knife, recovery could take up to six months, which means he is unlikely to be fit in time for the Ashes 2025 in Australia, which is set to begin in just three months.
Ollie Pope also had shoulder injuries in the past that kept him out for at least four months, but Woakes, being a bowler, will likely need even more time to recover and bowl once again. However, the England all-rounder’s record in Australia hasn’t been great, but he was still seen as a valuable option for Down Under, especially if the pitches remain bowler-friendly.
Chris Woakes’ Test career in jeopardy after shoulder injury
Meanwhile, Chris Woakes might find it tough to make a comeback in Test cricket even after his shoulder injury heals. The ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy hasn’t gone well for him, as the 36-year-old all-rounder struggled with both bat and ball. The pitches didn’t help, as he averaged 52 with the ball and just 11 with the bat against India.
Even if he recovers, there’s no guarantee that Woakes will be picked again in the Test side. After big series like the upcoming Ashes 2025, England may prefer to look ahead rather than rely on senior players. They are unlikely to give Woakes the same treatment as given to James Anderson.
Chris Woakes’ injury sparks fresh debate on injury substitutes in Tests
Well, Woakes’ injury has once again reignited a debate about whether teams should be allowed to bring in substitutes in Test matches. Presently, only players with concussions can be fully replaced, including batting or bowling in the traditional format of the game.
But after Rishabh Pant fractured his foot in the fourth Test, India’s coach Gautam Gambhir suggested that teams should be allowed to make injury replacements even when it’s not a concussion, but England captain Ben Stokes opposed the idea and called it ridiculous.
