Pain no barrier as Woakes readies to take crease at The Oval
Chris Woakes will bat on the final day of the fifth Test if required as England close in on a series-clinching victory.
England all-rounder Chris Woakes is preparing himself to push through the pain barrier and bat on the final day of the fifth Test against India despite a shoulder injury.
Woakes suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder when fielding on the opening day of The Oval contest and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the match.
But with England needing just 35 runs for victory on the final day on Monday and to clinch the series 3-1, Woakes will put his body on the line and come to the crease at No.11 should he be required.
The #ENGvIND series will go to the last day at The Oval for a result 🔥#WTC27 📝: https://t.co/SNl4Ym0LJt pic.twitter.com/FMB6awNT3W
— ICC (@ICC) August 3, 2025
Woakes received some throwdowns at the indoor nets at The Oval on Sunday and got changed into his whites in anticipation of batting on the penultimate day as England reached 339/6 at stumps in pursuit of 374 runs for victory.
England teammate Joe Root, who scored his 39th Test century earlier in the day to put the side within sight of victory, revealed Woakes was going to do everything he could to help his side prevail.
"He's all-in, like the rest of us," Root said of Woakes.
"It's been that kind of series, where guys have had to put bodies on the line. Hopefully, it doesn't get to that. But he had some throwdowns in here at one point, and he's ready if needed. He's desperate to do what it takes."
Look who's in his whites in the dressing room 👀 pic.twitter.com/YQPaVhDYhv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025
England are yet to reveal the full extent of Woakes' injury, though Root said the 36-year-old was still experiencing some pain.
"Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain having done what he's done," Root said.
"It just shows, as we've seen from other guys in this series - (Rishabh) Pant batting with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows here and there, but it means a huge amount to him.
"It just shows the character and the person that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England, and hopefully - well, hopefully he doesn't have to, but if it does come to that - get us across the line and win us an incredible series."
The headband straight on ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025
"England's present No. 4 will never forget England's previous No. 4, that meant so much to him."
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With just 35 runs required for victory on Monday, Root believes his team is well placed to sneak across the line and claim the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
"I'd like think we have got what we need to get across the line tomorrow," Root said.
"It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and the confidence in our dressing room, clearly we feel we have got the players to get us across the line. But it's just been one of those sort of five matches in six weeks where it's swung both ways the whole time. And we are in for a great day tomorrow."