Watch: Chris Woakes walks out to bat one-handed after shoulder dislocation in Oval Test

England pacer Chris Woakes came out to bat on Day 5 (Monday, August 4) of the fifth Test against India at The Oval despite a serious shoulder injury. The Warwickshire all-rounder walked in after the fall of the ninth wicket in England’s second innings to give his team a chance to secure the series victory.

Woakes was initially ruled out of the fifth Test at The Oval after suffering a suspected shoulder dislocation while fielding on Day 1. Before the injury, he had bowled 14 overs, taking one wicket for 46 runs.

The setback kept him out of action for the rest of the match. Notably, he didn’t bat in the first innings or bowl in the second. England's team management confirmed that he would undergo further medical evaluation after the conclusion of the series.

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Watch: Chris Woakes Walks Out With His Bat in One Arm and His Other Arm in a Sling

Prasidh Krishna bowled Josh Tongue, leaving England nine down and India on the brink of a famous win. However, Chris Woakes walked out to bat as England's last hope, with his injured arm in a sling.

Woakes received a standing ovation from the Oval crowd for his courage. However, the 36-year-old cricketer might aggravate his injury by running between the wickets, which could keep him out of action for a few months.

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

Arm in a sling, Chris Woakes has arrived to the crease 😱 pic.twitter.com/D4QDscnfXE

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 4, 2025

Running Has Caused the Shoulder Absolute Agony - Sir Alastair Cook on Chris Woakes

Former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook criticized India’s field placements in the game. He questioned Shubman Gill’s decision to not bring all fielders up when pressure was high, adding that it gave England a lifeline. Cook noted that running between the wickets caused Chris Woakes considerable pain.

"I think running has caused the shoulder absolute agony. Not smart by India - I'm not sure why Shubman Gill wouldn't have everyone up. England got away with one there," Cook stated, as quoted by BBC Test Match Special.

Mohammed Siraj Is the Leading Wicket-Taker of the ENG vs IND 2025 Test Series

England resumed their chase needing 35 runs with four wickets in hand, while India were desperate to take all remaining wickets to level the series. Mohammed Siraj removed Jamie Smith in just his first over.

Smith, looking uneasy against the moving ball, edged one to Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. He had to depart to the dressing room after scoring 2 off 20 balls.

Siraj then trapped Jamie Overton LBW for 9 in the 80th over. The delivery jagged back in sharply and hit Overton in front of the stumps. The right-handed bowler fulfilled the team’s hopes by dismissing Gus Atkinson, helping India secure a narrow 6-run win. The series ended 2-2 on the final day.

Also read: Gary Stead rubs salt on India's wounds with 'Greatest achievement' claim on New Zealand's historic 3-0 win