Chris Woakes has opened up after he entered the field wielding his bat with just one hand in an extraordinary display of courage at The Oval this week.
The 36-year-old pace bowler’s heroic attempt to secure victory for England ultimately fell short as India clinched a nail-biting six-run triumph on Monday.
The dramatic finale saw England requiring 17 runs with their last wicket pair at the crease. Despite his dislocated shoulder, Woakes refused to abandon his team-mates in their hour of need, although the thrilling five-Test series concluded level at 2-2.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
His injury occurred on the opening evening of the decisive Test when Woakes pursued a ball heading towards the boundary. Landing awkwardly on the rain-slicked outfield, his hand slipped and his entire body weight crashed through his shoulder.
Reuters | Chris Woakes left the field in agony just days ago“I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble,” Woakes revealed to The Guardian. His arm hung limply as agonising pain set in immediately.
Team doctor Anita Biswas and physiotherapist Ben Davies spent half an hour attempting to relocate the joint in the dressing room. The excruciating procedure involved multiple attempts, with Woakes enduring unbearable pain despite using a vapour pen for relief.
“It felt like three hours but the medical staff were amazing,” he recalled. The shoulder finally clicked back into place after Biswas applied pressure with her knee in his armpit.
Speaking from his Birmingham home whilst awaiting further medical assessments, Woakes explained his motivation for the brave gesture. “You just know you’re part of something bigger,” he added.
JUST IN: Premier League players make decision on taking the knee this season days after Lionesses stopped
Getty | Chris Woakes selflessly put his body on the line to bat for England despite dislocating his shoulder
“It’s your team and your team-mates, all the hard work and the sacrifices they put in, the people watching at home and in the ground. You just feel a duty to do it for everyone.”
Preparation for batting with one functional arm began on day four alongside assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. Initial attempts at conventional batting proved excruciating.
“I defended one normally and, oh mate, it was agony,” Woakes admitted. They determined that adopting a left-handed stance would protect the injured shoulder whilst allowing defensive strokes.
READ MORE: ITV make decision on Gary Lineker hosting their World Cup coverage after signing deal with BBC rival
Woakes never faced a delivery as Gus Atkinson shielded him from the strike before Mohammed Siraj bowled the final wicket. Yet even running between the wickets proved torturous for the injured all-rounder.
“The first one was the worst,” he explained. “All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore.” Instinctively attempting to run normally despite his strapped arm, he feared the shoulder had dislocated again.
India captain Shubman Gill approached Woakes afterwards, praising his bravery, with Woakes adding: “Both sets of players had been through the mill in the series and deserve credit for the show we put on.”
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Reuters
|The sportsmanship from India was clear, with India captain Shubman Gill praising Chris Woakes
Rishabh Pant, nursing his own broken foot from the previous Test, posted a saluting emoji on social media in tribute.
Despite the outpouring of public admiration, Woakes remains philosophical about his newfound status as a national hero.
“I mean, it’s not the way you want to be front-page news – you’d sooner it was for five wickets or a century,” he admitted.
“Having played for 18 years, the game is what it is: you lose a player and as a team you have to find a way.”
England captain Ben Stokes praised his team-mate’s unwavering commitment.
“It shows what it means to play for your country and to fight to win games,” Stokes told Sky Sports.
Head coach Brendon McCullum described the act as typical of Woakes’ character, hoping the injury won’t sideline him for long.