In the pantheon of cricket’s most courageous moments, Chris Woakes has etched his name alongside legends after walking out to bat with a dislocated shoulder during the heart-stopping finale of England vs India at The Oval. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t try,” Woakes revealed in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, perfectly encapsulating the spirit that saw him bat one-handed with 17 runs needed for victory, transforming personal agony into national pride despite England’s agonizing six-run defeat.
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The Moment That Broke Chris Woakes
The seeds of Chris Woakes’ heroic stand were sown in the most innocuous circumstances during the opening day of the decisive fifth Test between England vs India. Speaking to The Guardian, Woakes described the fateful moment: “The outfield was wet from the rain, almost greasy, and my hand slipped as I landed and my full body weight went through my shoulder. I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble.”
The immediate aftermath was terrifying: “The pain came on pretty quickly and my arm was just hanging there. It was grim and my thoughts were racing. ‘Is it game over? Is it career done?’ It was a horrible place to be.”
Even in that moment of crisis, Woakes’ team-first mentality shone through. Explaining why he made the dive despite the conditions, he told The Guardian: “A tight game like that one – just six runs the difference – kinda shows how they all add up.”
The Excruciating Road to Recovery
What followed in the England dressing room sounds like a medieval torture chamber rather than modern sports medicine. Chris Woakes endured 30 minutes of agony as team doctor Anita Biswas and physiotherapist Ben Davies attempted to relocate his dislocated shoulder.
“It is a horrible feeling, your shoulder not where it should be and worrying it might never get back in,” Woakes told The Guardian, describing the 30 minutes of medical intervention. “I had this vape pen thing which tasted rank but took the edge off, pain-wise.”
The relocation process involved multiple attempts, with Woakes explaining: “We thought we had it in with a ‘clunk’ but then my pectoral muscle spasmed and rejected it. That was horrendous.” Eventually, team doctor Anita Biswas succeeded: “Another 10 minutes or so, with her knee in my armpit, there was another ‘clunk’ and it was back it properly.”
The Relocation Process Timeline
| Time | Procedure | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10 minutes | Initial assessment | Confirmed dislocation |
| 10-20 minutes | First relocation attempt | Failed – muscle spasm |
| 20-30 minutes | Second successful attempt | Shoulder relocated |
| Evening | Hospital X-ray | No fracture confirmed |
Preparing for the Impossible: One-Armed Cricket
As England vs India reached its thrilling climax, Chris Woakes began preparing for the unthinkable. During England’s first innings, Woakes approached head coach Brendon McCullum about his availability. “No chance, boss,” came the reply, as Woakes revealed to The Guardian. “Park up and we’ll see where we get to later in the match.”
The preparation for batting one-handed began in earnest with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. “I defended one normally and, oh mate, it was agony,” Woakes recalled. “So yeah, we soon worked out that a left-hander’s stance would shield the shoulder and at least allow me to sort of block with my top hand in control.”
This tactical switch represented more than just adaptation – it showed the lengths Chris Woakes would go to serve his country. The man who had built his reputation as a reliable right-handed all-rounder was willing to reinvent his entire technique for one final stand.
The Walk That Stopped a Nation
At 11:40 AM on Monday, August 5, 2025, Chris Woakes began the most memorable walk in recent cricket history. Wearing Jacob Bethell’s left-hander’s thigh guard and borrowing arm guards from Joe Root and Ollie Pope, he made his way to the middle for what could have been cricket’s greatest fairytale ending.
Describing his mindset while walking to the crease, Woakes told The Guardian: “It was bittersweet in the end. Part of me wondered what it might be like, to see if I could have defended the ball, seen out an over maybe.”
However, he acknowledged the risks: “But the other side of it was: ‘Thank God I didn’t face a 90mph bouncer, one-handed, facing the wrong way around.’ Those were the anxious feelings, really. You’re still pretty exposed out there.”
The sight of England’s No.11 walking out with his arm in a sling drew standing ovations from both sets of supporters and respectful acknowledgment from the Indian team. With England needing just 17 runs and having witnessed similar heroics from India’s Rishabh Pant (who batted with a broken foot at Old Trafford), the stage was set for an epic conclusion.
The Cruel Reality of Running in Agony
While Chris Woakes never faced a delivery – Gus Atkinson was bowled by Mohammed Siraj before he could take strike – he experienced four instances of excruciating pain while running between the wickets. Each sprint was a test of willpower that revealed the true extent of his sacrifice.
Speaking exclusively to The Guardian about the physical toll of running, Woakes revealed: “The first one was the worst. All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore. Instinct took over here – even with my arm strapped down I tried to run as you naturally do.”
The fear of re-injury was constant: “I genuinely worried my shoulder had popped back out again, hence you saw me throw my helmet off, rip the glove off with my teeth, and check it was OK.”
These moments of raw human drama, broadcast to millions worldwide, epitomized everything that makes Test cricket compelling. Here was a seasoned professional, reduced to biting off his glove to check his shoulder, yet continuing to fight for his team’s cause.
International Respect and Sporting Brotherhood
The aftermath of Chris Woakes’ heroic attempt transcended the usual boundaries of England vs India rivalry. Indian captain Shubman Gill made a point of commending the English hero, while several Indian players approached him immediately after their victory celebrations.
Speaking to The Guardian about the post-match exchanges, Woakes recalled: “Shubman said something like: ‘That was incredibly brave.’ I told him: ‘You’ve had an unbelievable series, well played, and credit to your team.'”
The mutual respect extended to Rishabh Pant, with whom Woakes exchanged messages: “He then sent me a voice note saying: ‘I hope all is OK, good luck with the recovery and I hope we meet again out there some day.’ I obviously said sorry for the broken foot.”
The exchange of messages with Rishabh Pant, who had his own injury battle during the series, highlighted cricket’s capacity to unite competitors through shared respect. “He sent me a voice note saying: ‘I hope all is OK, good luck with the recovery and I hope we meet again out there some day.'”
The Price of Heroism: Career Implications
Chris Woakes’ brave stand may have been his final act in Test cricket, with the shoulder injury potentially ruling him out of the upcoming Ashes series in Australia. Medical assessments following the series will determine whether his international career can continue, but the manner of his potential farewell could not have been more fitting.
“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,” Woakes admitted with characteristic understatement. “It is so weird to go from the start of a Test week, thinking ‘one last push’, to ending up on a physio’s table wondering what the future holds.”
England vs India Series: Woakes’ Final Statistics
| Category | Performance | Series Standing |
|---|---|---|
| Tests Played | 5/5 | Only seamer to play all matches |
| Wickets | 11 | Joint leading England wicket-taker |
| Batting Average | 28.5 | Valuable lower-order runs |
| Catches | 4 | Reliable slip fielder until injury |
| Most Memorable Moment | One-armed batting heroics | Cricket folklore achieved |
The Bigger Picture: Test Cricket’s Uncompromising Nature
Reflecting on the attention his heroics generated, Woakes told The Guardian with characteristic humility: “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.”
On the ongoing debate about injury substitutions in Test cricket, Woakes remained traditional: “I’m with Stokesy, to be honest. 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.“.
He concluded his Guardian interview with a poignant reflection: “It is so weird to go from the start of a Test week, thinking ‘one last push’, to ending up on a physio’s table wondering what the future holds.”
This philosophical stance reflects the old-school values that made his heroic stand so compelling. In an era of player welfare protocols and medical advances, Woakes represented cricket’s warrior tradition – the belief that representing your country demands everything, even when everything might not be enough.
England vs India Series: Injury Timeline
| Date | Player | Injury | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 23 | Rishabh Pant | Fractured right foot | Batted with injury at Old Trafford |
| July 31 | Ben Stokes | Right shoulder injury | Missed fifth Test |
| August 1 | Chris Woakes | Dislocated left shoulder | Heroic one-armed batting attempt |
| August 4 | Shoaib Bashir | Broken finger | Continued bowling and batting |
Historical Context: Cricket’s Greatest One-Armed Stands
Chris Woakes joins an exclusive club of cricketers who have batted with serious injuries in Test matches:
- Colin Cowdrey (1963): Batted with broken arm against West Indies
- Paul Terry (1984): Continued batting with broken arm against West Indies
- Malcolm Marshall (1984): Batted and bowled with broken hand
- Rishabh Pant (2025): Batted with fractured foot at Old Trafford
Each of these moments represents cricket’s uncompromising spirit, but Woakes’ heroics carry additional poignancy as they potentially marked the end of an international career that epitomized service over self.
Chris Woakes’ one-armed stand in the England vs India series finale transcended sport, becoming a testament to human courage and duty over self-preservation. In his exclusive Guardian interview, he revealed the simple philosophy that drove him: “I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever.”
Though England fell six runs short of a famous victory, Woakes achieved something greater – reminding the world why Test cricket remains the ultimate examination of character. His final words to The Guardian capture the essence of sporting heroism: “You couldn’t just call it off at nine wickets down.” As he awaits medical verdicts on his future, Chris Woakes can rest assured that his legacy is secure – not for statistics, but for the courage he showed when his country needed him most.
This article draws extensively from Chris Woakes’ exclusive interview with The Guardian, conducted 48 hours after his heroic stand at The Oval.
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FAQs
How did Chris Woakes injure his shoulder during England vs India?
Chris Woakes dislocated his shoulder on the first day of the fifth Test while fielding, when his hand slipped on the wet outfield as he tried to save a boundary, causing his full body weight to go through his shoulder.
Did Chris Woakes actually bat in the final Test?
Yes, Woakes came out to bat with 17 runs needed for England victory, wearing his arm in a sling. However, he never faced a ball as Gus Atkinson was bowled by Mohammed Siraj before Woakes could take strike.
How long did it take to relocate Chris Woakes’ shoulder?
It took approximately 30 minutes in the England dressing room for team doctor Anita Biswas and physiotherapist Ben Davies to successfully relocate Woakes’ dislocated shoulder after multiple attempts.
Will Chris Woakes miss the Ashes series due to his injury?
Chris Woakes is awaiting specialist assessment, but the shoulder injury makes him a major doubt for the Ashes series in Australia, which starts on November 21 in Perth, and potentially threatens his international career.
How did the Indian team react to Chris Woakes’ heroic moment?
The Indian players showed great respect, with captain Shubman Gill personally commending Woakes’ bravery after the match, and Rishabh Pant sending supportive voice messages acknowledging his courage.
