Chris Woakes has not ruled out playing in the Ashes this winter after revealing that rehabilitation, rather than surgery, is being considered for his dislocated shoulder. The 36-year-old England bowler produced a brave batting performance in the fifth Test against India earlier this week, batting at No 11 with his arm in a sling after dislocating his left shoulder on day one.
Woakes is awaiting the results of a scan on his shoulder, but remains hopeful that an eight-week rehabilitation period could allow him to recover in time for the Ashes, which begin on 21 November. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: 'I’m waiting to see what the extent of the damage is but I think the options will be to have surgery or to go down a rehab route and try and get it as strong as possible.'
He acknowledged the risk of recurrence with rehabilitation, but said: 'I suppose that could be a risk that you’re just willing to take sort of thing.' Woakes noted that surgery would require three to four months of recovery, which would jeopardise his Ashes participation, whereas rehabilitation could strengthen the shoulder within eight weeks.
Woakes is the most experienced member of England’s bowling unit following the retirement of Stuart Broad two summers ago and the decision to move on from James Anderson in 2024.
