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Chris Woakes ended day one of the fifth Test against India at The Oval with a suspected dislocated shoulder, in a blow to England’s hopes of a series victory.
Woakes was chased a ball racing away towards the boundary when he dived to keep it in play. And although he managed to scoop it away from the rope, he tumbled on to his shoulder before yelling out in pain.
The bowler was attended to by physios before being led off the field of play, with only a few minutes left before stumps on a rain-affected opening day.
“It doesn’t look great,” said Woakes’ teammate Gus Atkinson. “I will be surprised if he takes any part in the game. It’s a big shame when anyone gets injured. I’m hoping it’s not too bad but whatever it is he’ll get the full support from everyone.”
India finished the first day on 204-6, having fought back late in the piece thanks to Karun Nair’s 50 not out.
England had to work hard for their breakthroughs and will be delighted to have got rid of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill, the men who have tormented them throughout the summer, though captain Gill gifted his wicket with a brainless run-out.
Recalled Atkinson trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for two as stand-in captain Ollie Pope finally got on the right side of a DRS review after 14 unsuccessful appeals last year. Rahul, with over 500 runs to his name from the first four matches, looked relatively untroubled before playing-on to Woakes for 14 as India reached lunch on 72-2.
Gill, averaging over 90 and with four centuries to his name in the series, then inexplicably set off for a non-existent single and was run out by four yards as bowler Atkinson had time to transfer the ball to his right hand before throwing down the stumps.
After a rain-delayed restart, a wayward Josh Tongue, whose first over lasted nine balls and went for 12 runs, finally found his line to nip the edge of Sai Sudharsan’s bat to dismiss him for 38.
Tongue repeated the feat soon afterwards to remove Jadeja, who scored a superb unbeaten century in his team’s rearguard action in the fourth test – for nine and India were reeling on 123-5 with their big-hitters all gone, or in the case of Rishabh Pant, absent through injury.
Dhruv Jurel, a ball after overturning an lbw decision against him, then got tucked up by Atkinson and was caught neatly at second slip by Harry Brook for 19.
Karun Nair batted calmly to finish on 52 not out and Washington Sundar, another centurion last Sunday, was on 19 at the close as the impressive Atkinson finished the day with figures of two for 31 off 19 overs. But Woakes’ injury soured England’s progress.
additional reporting by reuters
