ENG vs IND 2025: ‘Chris Woakes is ready to bat on Day 5 at The Oval if needed’

Former England captain Joe Root confirmed that the injured Chris Woakes will come out to bat if he’s wanted to on Day 5 of the fifth and closing Take a look at match. The Take a look at match is intriguingly poised at The Oval, with England needing 35 runs with 4 wickets remaining on the ultimate day.

Root didn’t convert his begin within the first innings. Nonetheless, he showcased his class within the second innings, scoring his thirty ninth Take a look at century on the penultimate day of the conflict. His 105-run knock got here off 152 deliveries comprised 12 fours. Root’s 195-run partnership with Harry Brook got here off simply 211 balls and it modified the mindset of the England workforce, which had earlier received right into a little bit of a troublesome spot early within the morning session, having slumped to 106/3.

In the course of the closing phases of Day 4, Woakes was noticed sporting the whites within the England dressing room. He suffered a shoulder damage whereas fielding on Day 1 and can most certainly require surgical procedure. Nonetheless, after not batting within the first innings, Woakes appears to be ready to placed on a combat with the willow on Day 5.

“He is all-in, like the remainder of us. It has been that form of sequence, the place guys have needed to put our bodies on the road. Hopefully, it does not get to that. However he had some throwdowns in right here [the indoor school] at one level, and he is prepared if wanted… He is determined to do what it takes,” Root mentioned after the tip of play on Day 4.

For the unversed, the England seamer is fighting what’s a suspected shoulder dislocation. The 36-year-old practiced batting one-handed within the indoor college on Sunday, and became his whites throughout the night session, readying himself to bat at No. 11 if required.

“I am undecided. I’ve not seen him follow but. You would possibly get a greater indication tomorrow if he has some throwdowns within the morning,” Root mentioned.

Clearly, he is in an enormous quantity of ache having completed what he is completed: Root

Root, who slammed his thirty ninth Take a look at century on Sunday, mentioned that Woakes is in a variety of ache however he may replicate Rishabh Pant’s heroics from the fourth Take a look at, the place the wicketkeeper-batter had walked out to bat regardless of fracturing his foot. The proper-handed batter hoped that Woakes, regardless of being keen to bat by way of ache, will not be wanted as the opposite batters would have the ability to get the job completed.

“Clearly, he is in an enormous quantity of ache having completed what he is completed. It simply reveals, as we have seen from different guys on this sequence – [Rishabh] Pant batting with a damaged foot, guys taking all kinds of blows right here and there – however it means an enormous quantity to him. It simply reveals the character and the individual that he is keen to place his physique on the road like that for England, and hopefully – properly, hopefully he does not should, but when it does come to that – get us throughout the road and win us an unbelievable sequence,” Root mentioned.

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