Watch: Chris Woakes fumes at Oval curator Lee Fortis after fight with Gautam Gambhir

England pace bowler Chris Woakes expressed his frustration with the outfield on Day 1 (Thursday, July 31) of the fifth and final Test match against India during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Woakes was upset when the ball rolled through a patch of water on the field, which created problems for fielders.

India, led by Shubman Gill, are facing England in the fifth and final Test of a tightly contested series at the Kennington Oval in London. England lead the series 2-1, but the margin could have been in favor of India if they had seized crucial opportunities during key phases when they were in a top position.

Watch: Chris Woakes Fumes Over Damp Outfield on Day 1 of Oval Test

Chris Woakes showed visible frustration over the damp outfield while chasing a ball. The incident took place on the first ball of the 10th over in India’s first innings. KL Rahul clipped the ball through mid-wicket, and Woakes gave chase.

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Water splashed from his heels, highlighting the poor conditions. The ball also got wet after rolling through a puddle, raising concerns about the field’s readiness for play. Despite the slow and soggy outfield, Rahul and his partner managed to collect three runs with ease.

Watch the video of the same posted by a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) below:

pic.twitter.com/q7nvTidHQq

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) July 31, 2025

Chris Woakes Nears Major Personal Milestone During Oval Test

Chris Woakes is on the verge of a personal milestone. Before the fifth Test between India and England, the pacer took 395 wickets in 216 international matches, with an average of 29.50, including eight five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul.

Just five wickets short of reaching 400 across formats, Woakes is close to joining England’s elite 400-wicket club, which includes legendary names like James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ian Botham, Graeme Swann, and Bob Willis.

The right-arm pacer's performance in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy hasn’t met expectations. He has taken 10 wickets in four matches at a high average of 52.80, ranking sixth on the series wicket chart despite leading the bowling attack.

Woakes has a strong record at The Oval, the venue for the final Test. He has taken 26 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 25.23, with best figures of 4/50.

Nasser Hussain Backs Chris Woakes to Play Key Role in Final Test at The Oval

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has backed Chris Woakes to play a crucial role in the final Test. Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain said that the conditions will suit Woakes perfectly. He noted that Woakes might be physically tired after playing all four Tests in the series.

"It is good to see Atkinson back as he adds to the batting as well as the bowling but I think Woakes is the key. He will have got out of bed this morning stiff and sore after playing all four Tests so far but then seen the pitch. His body might be exhausted but he has waited two months for a pitch like this so make sure you use it well," said Hussain on Sky Sports’ broadcast.

Also read: Sanjay Manjrekar exposes Gautam Gambhir's favoritism in Kuldeep Yadav's exclusion from India's playing XI