Woakes suffers painful shoulder injury mid-test; England face final match with one less bowler

Chris Woakes may have played his final part in England’s fifth Test against India after a nasty fall left him clutching his shoulder in visible pain. The 36-year-old all-rounder was injured while diving to prevent a boundary at the Kia Oval on Thursday, and his involvement in the remainder of the match now hangs in the balance.

Woakes, the only England bowler to feature in all five Tests of this demanding summer series, crumpled to the turf in the 60th over, grimacing as he landed awkwardly on his left side. Moments later, he was seen with his arm held in a makeshift sling, heading toward the dressing room for medical attention.

A scan was scheduled for Thursday evening to assess the extent of the damage. Overnight analysis will determine whether he can bowl again in the final match of the series.

“It doesn’t look great,” admitted fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who returned to the England side with a lively spell on the opening day. “It’s a big shame, in the last game of the series. I’m hoping it’s not too bad and whatever it is, he’ll get full support from everyone.”

Woakes’s absence would be a massive blow for England, not only for his reliability with the ball but also his experience. With difficult overhead conditions and a green-tinged pitch that suggested seamers would dominate, England’s attack suddenly looks a man short.

Atkinson, who had been sidelined since May with a hamstring injury, stepped up admirably. He claimed vital wickets and looked comfortable despite having only one club game and a second XI match under his belt since returning to fitness. “I feel fresh, I feel good,” he said. “I know I’ve only got this one game to play, so I can push the limits a bit.”

India, meanwhile, ended a rain-hit first day on 204 for six, thanks to a fighting half-century from Karun Nair. Conditions appeared tailor-made for seamers, but poor discipline with the ball and intermittent showers made it tough to maintain rhythm.

Atkinson described bowling at the Oval as a challenge despite the help in the air. “It can be a tough ground to bowl on because of the way the ball moves – sometimes off the pitch, sometimes swings late. The footholes weren’t easy either. It was slippery out there, and that can obviously affect the bowling.”

For India, criticism followed the decision to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, particularly with the series on the line. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained the call, citing Bumrah’s workload. “He did say coming into the tour he could only play three games and we felt it was right to honour that call.”

While hindsight might cast doubt on the call, Ten Doeschate pointed to the Oval’s reputation as a batting-friendly surface. “Maybe England got it spot on, leaving the best bowling wicket for last after he’s played three. We’d love to have him here, but we’ve got to look after him too.”

India’s innings also featured a bizarre lapse in judgment by captain Shubman Gill. The series’ top scorer ran himself out for 21, attempting a risky single straight into the path of a charging Atkinson. Ten Doeschate called it a “misjudgement” but added, “Given what he’s done in the first four Tests, we’ll let him get away with that one.”

For now, all eyes are on Woakes’s scan results. Should he be ruled out, England’s bowling attack will need to dig deep without their most consistent performer in what could be the final twist of a gripping series.