Chris Woakes’ inclusion in the next Ashes tour Down Under is now in doubt. His right shoulder possibly dislocated on the opening day of the Test match at The Oval. His injury has ruled him out of this next match. Secondly, and far more importantly, it brings huge cause for concern around England’s preparations for the Ashes – starting in a little under two months.
The unfortunate incident took place on Thursday evening as Woakes was fielding. The injury occurred when trying to make a stop on the sideline. Even in that discomfort, Woakes showed remarkable grit. He had courageously come out to bat on the last day with his left arm in a sling, concealed in his England sweater. This act underscored his commitment to the team, as he provided support to teammate Gus Atkinson in their pursuit of the 17 runs needed for victory.
It was as tough a situation at the crease as any player can face. Woakes spent only 16 minutes in the middle without facing a ball. He prepared to take a left-handed stance but ran between the wickets on four occasions, showcasing his willingness to contribute despite evident discomfort.
Sadly for him, his innings was brought to an end when Atkinson was bowled by Mohammed Siraj, bringing the Test match to a close. The severity of the injury has caused England’s medical team to arrange scans and an assessment on Julian Brandt in the first instance on Wednesday. This development puts huge doubts over Woakes’ fitness heading into the all important Ashes series.
England’s head coach Brendon McCullum expressed concern over Woakes’ condition, noting, “We hope the injury is not too bad, but we will have to work that out over the next week or so.” McCullum praised Woakes for his bravery, stating, “I thought Woakesy was really brave to do that. You could see running between the wickets how much pain he was in.”
Woakes’ international future is difficult to gauge as well. He has now been ruled out of being involved in The Hundred tournament, which gets under way on Tuesday. The decision serves to underscore the seriousness of his injury and the need for adequate time to recover.
Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, echoed Keene’s sentiments in reply to Woakes’ criticism. He continued to explain how players have to make hard choices about their bodies. “I could have gone into this game knowing I had a sore shoulder and saying I’ll give it a go, hopefully I come through but if not I know I have someone who can come in and replace me,” Stokes remarked. He emphasized the mental and physical challenges of cricket, stating, “This game is hard and takes us to some tough places, challenging us mentally and physically. Sometimes we end up with injuries. These fellas are ready to prove their devotion. They still want to get out there and do their best for their country.
Stokes gave an upbeat assessment of Woakes’ condition. “Much better.” “I don’t view it continuing to be a thing,” he said, adding that he hopes the injury turns out not to be serious, after all.
As England awaits further updates on Woakes’ condition, his absence will undoubtedly be felt both in the ongoing Test and as they prepare for the challenging Ashes series against Australia.
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