England face the prospect of playing the remainder of the fifth Test against India with a bowler short after Chris Woakes injured his left shoulder while fielding on the opening day at the Oval. The 36-year-old was due to undergo a scan on Thursday evening, with his ability to take an active part in the rest of the match to be assessed overnight.
Woakes, the only England bowler considered fit enough to play all five matches of a gruelling series, was clearly in considerable pain after landing awkwardly while attempting to prevent a boundary in the 60th over of a rain-affected day. After receiving treatment on the field, he was led to the dressing room with his arm supported in a makeshift sling.
“It doesn’t look great,” said Gus Atkinson, who was the pick of England’s bowlers on his return to the team. “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.” Atkinson, who has been managing a hamstring injury since May, expressed confidence that he could help the remaining seamers cover for Woakes if the scan brings bad news.
India reached stumps on 204 for six, with Karun Nair unbeaten on 52 as he seeks to give a personally disappointing tour a brighter ending. The conditions, featuring a green-tinged pitch, several rain breaks and threatening overheads, offered assistance to the bowlers, though England’s efforts were aided by some wayward Indian batting. Atkinson noted the ground can be tough for bowling, with movement off the pitch and significant swing after pitching, while slippery footholes added to the challenge.
India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, defended the decision not to select Jasprit Bumrah in conditions that appeared ideal for him, citing the bowler’s workload and his pre-tour indication that he could play only three matches. “Our thinking was the Oval’s normally a fairly good wicket for batting on, so we thought we’d roll the dice in Manchester. With hindsight we’d love to have him here,” he said. Meanwhile, England’s task was eased by a run-out error from series-leading run-scorer Shubman Gill, who misjudged a single after nudging the ball into Atkinson’s path.
