With England just 34 runs away from a thrilling victory against India in the 5th Test at Kennington Oval, all eyes are on Chris Woakes — and whether he’ll step onto the field to bat if needed. Woakes was spotted wearing his Test whites inside the dressing room, suggesting he is mentally prepared. However, the visible shoulder strap on his right arm indicates he may be nursing an injury, raising serious doubts about his availability to bat.
Earlier injury blow
In a major blow for England, Chris Woakes was officially ruled out of the Test match following a shoulder injury sustained on Day 1. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement confirming that the fast bowler will play no further part in the ongoing Test and will be assessed further at the end of the series.
The injury occurred during the 57th over of India’s first innings when Woakes attempted a dive at the boundary to save a run. He landed awkwardly on his shoulder and had to walk off the field after an immediate inspection from the physio.
Match Update
Play was stopped due to bad light late on Day 4, with England at 339/6 in 76.2 overs, needing 35 runs to win, while India require 4 wickets. The umpires brought out the light meters and decided that conditions were unfit to continue, especially with fast bowlers operating and no spin option likely from India. Covers were brought on soon after.
Despite the stoppage, a result is all but certain with Day 5 still remaining. England had just lost Joe Root (105 off 152), caught by Dhruv Jurel off Prasidh Krishna, opening up a small window for India. Jamie Overton and Jamie Smith are currently at the crease, with India pressing hard through relentless pace bowling.
Whether or not Woakes bats may ultimately not matter — but in a game where momentum can flip in moments, his absence could still be felt if the chase tightens on the final day.
