Former England captain Joe Root has revealed that injured Chris Woakes will bat if necessary on Day 5 of the fifth and final Test. The Test match at The Oval is intriguingly poised, with England requiring 35 runs on the final day and only four wickets remaining.
Joe Root failed to convert his first-inning start. However, he demonstrated his ability in the second innings, reaching his 39th Test century on the penultimate day of the match. His 105-run total came from 152 deliveries, including 12 fours. Root and Harry Brook’s 195-run partnership came off just 211 balls, changing the mindset of the England team, which had fallen to 106/3 early in the morning session.
Woakes was spotted wearing the whites in England’s dressing room near the end of Day 4. He sustained a shoulder injury during fielding on Day 1 and will most likely need surgery. However, despite not batting in the first innings, Woakes appears to be ready to face the willow on Day 5.
“He’s all-in, like the rest of us. It’s been that kind of series, where guys have had to put bodies on the line. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that. But he had some throwdowns in here [the indoor school] at one point, and he’s ready if needed… He’s desperate to do what it takes,” Root said after the end of play on Day 4.
The England seamer is dealing with a potential shoulder dislocation. On Sunday, the 36-year-old practiced batting one-handed at the indoor school before changing into his whites for the evening session, preparing to bat at No. 11 if necessary.
“I’m not sure. I’ve not seen him practice yet. You might get a better indication tomorrow if he has some throwdowns in the morning.”
Joe Root
‘He’s in Huge Pain After What He’s Done’ – Joe Root on Player’s Effort
Root, who scored his 39th Test century on Sunday, believes Woakes is in a lot of discomfort but might recreate Rishabh Pant’s heroics from the fourth Test, when the wicketkeeper-batsman stepped out to bat despite fracturing his foot. The right-handed batter thought that Woakes, despite his willingness to bat through discomfort, would not be needed because the other batters could do the job.
“Clearly, he’s in a huge amount of pain having done what he’s done. It just shows, as we’ve seen from other guys in this series – [Rishabh] Pant batting with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows here and there – but it means a huge amount to him. It just shows the character and the person that he’s willing to put his body on the line like that for England, and hopefully – well, hopefully he doesn’t have to, but if it does come to that – get us across the line and win us an incredible series.”
Joe Root
