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England fast bowler Chris Woakes has opened up about the incredible pain and determination behind his decision to bat with a dislocated shoulder during Day 5 of the fifth Test against India at The Oval. Woakes sustained the injury on the opening day and did not take part in the match until the final moments.
With England needing just 35 runs to win and only four wickets in hand, Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna mounted a fierce comeback, leaving England nine wickets down. In a courageous act, Woakes emerged to bat with his injured arm strapped in a sling. Though he never faced a delivery, he ran between the wickets with partner Gus Atkinson, grimacing with each step.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Woakes said he never had any doubts about stepping out to bat if the team needed him—even if the target had been much higher.
"I'm still gutted—devastated really—that we couldn't complete the fairytale. But not going out there was never an option for me, even if we needed 100 more runs. The ovation was special, and a few of the Indian players came over to show their respect, which meant a lot. But honestly, any player in that situation would have done the same. You don’t stop at nine down,” he said.
Despite not facing a ball, running singles proved to be an ordeal. Woakes recalled the pain he experienced during those desperate moments.
"The first run was the worst,” he admitted. “All I’d taken was codeine and the pain was intense. Instinct kicked in—I tried to run naturally even with my arm strapped, and I honestly thought my shoulder had popped out again. That’s why you saw me fling my helmet off, tear my glove off with my teeth, and check if it was still in place.”
England went on to lose the match—and the series finale—by just six runs.
