Chris Woakes Suffers Shoulder Injury During Final Test at The Oval

On the first day of the fifth Test at The Oval, England's Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury while chasing a boundary, raising concerns about his participation in the match. Woakes had already made a significant impact with the ball before his exit. Young pacer Gus Atkinson stepped up in Woakes' absence, contributing with key wickets and a run-out. As India ended the day at 204 for six, England aims to regain control in this crucial match. The situation surrounding Woakes' injury remains uncertain, leaving fans anxious about the team's prospects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 12:15 IST

Chris Woakes' Injury Overshadows Day 1 at The Oval

England encountered a significant challenge on the opening day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval when all-rounder Chris Woakes exited the match due to a shoulder injury. The incident took place during the post-Tea session as Woakes injured his left shoulder while attempting to chase down a boundary.

The injury occurred on the fifth ball of the 57th over when Karun Nair hit a drive off Jamie Overton. Woakes managed to prevent the boundary, limiting India to three runs, but landed awkwardly while diving, visibly in pain as he clutched his shoulder before leaving the field.

In a press conference, Atkinson commented on the situation, stating, 'I don’t know too much, but it doesn’t look great. It’s the last game of the series, and it’s always unfortunate when someone gets injured. I hope it’s not too serious, and he’ll have everyone’s full support.'

Prior to his injury, Woakes had bowled 14 overs, conceding 46 runs and taking the vital wicket of KL Rahul. His availability for the remainder of the match remains uncertain.

Young pacer Atkinson, who replaced Jofra Archer, has already made significant contributions, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, and showcasing his fielding skills with a direct-hit run-out of Shubman Gill.

After the day's play, Atkinson expressed that he is 'fresh and ready' to contribute further if needed. His performance was one of the few positives for England as they aim to gain an advantage in this decisive match.

India concluded the day at 204 for six, recovering from a precarious position of 153 for six, thanks to a resilient partnership between Washington Sundar and Karun Nair, who remained unbeaten on 52. England will aim to wrap up the tail quickly on Day 2 to seize control of the match.