England may be forced to finish the fifth Test against India at The Oval with one bowler down after Chris Woakes suffered a suspected shoulder dislocation while fielding.
The trouble started late on Thursday when Woakes went sprinting after a ball headed for the boundary. His hand slid out from under him on the slick turf, causing him to crash hard onto his left shoulder.
He was in immediate pain, clutching the shoulder as physio Ben Davies and the medical team hurried out. He eventually made his way off the field, using his own jumper as a makeshift sling.
According to an England spokesperson, he’s set for an overnight scan once he gets checked out in the dressing room.
“I don’t know too much about it, but it doesn’t look great,” fast bowler Gus Atkinson told reporters. “It’s a big shame, last game of the series, and when anyone gets injured, it’s a shame. I’m hoping it’s not too bad, and whatever it is, he’ll get full support from everyone.”
The 35-year-old seamer had bowled 14 overs on the opening day, taking 1 for 46. He has played all five Tests in the series, claiming 11 wickets at 52.18 from 181 overs. Only India’s Mohammed Siraj has matched his workload among seamers.
Woakes is also the senior figure in England’s pace attack. The other three seamers in the match—Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue—have just 18 combined Test appearances.
Atkinson, playing his first game of the series after recovering from a hamstring strain, said he is prepared to shoulder extra responsibility.
“Definitely, I feel fresh, I feel good,” he said. “I know I’ve only got this one game to play so I can push the limits a bit.”
England’s bowling options now look stretched as the hosts try to close out the series finale, with Woakes’ availability hanging on the results of his scan.
