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ENG vs IND 2025: Chris Woakes Ready to Bat on Day 5, Says Root

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Chris Woakes

Former England skipper Joe Root has confirmed that Chris Woakes, despite his injury concerns, is prepared to bat on Day 5 of the fifth Test against India at The Oval. England head into the final day needing just 35 more runs with four wickets remaining, setting the stage for a tense finish.

Woakes, who injured his shoulder while fielding on Day 1β€”believed to be a dislocationβ€”is in significant pain but is reportedly ready to walk out and bat at No. 11 if the match situation demands it. He did not bat in the first innings but was seen in full gear in the dressing room late on Day 4, having practiced batting one-handed indoors.

β€œπ‘―π’†β€™π’” 𝒂𝒍𝒍-π’Šπ’, π’π’Šπ’Œπ’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Œπ’Šπ’π’… 𝒐𝒇 π’”π’†π’“π’Šπ’†π’”, π’˜π’‰π’†π’“π’† π’ˆπ’–π’šπ’” 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒕 π’ƒπ’π’…π’Šπ’†π’” 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’π’Šπ’π’†. π‘―π’π’‘π’†π’‡π’–π’π’π’š, π’Šπ’• 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 π’ˆπ’†π’• 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕,” 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’…π’‚π’šβ€™π’” π’‘π’π’‚π’š. β€œπ‘©π’–π’• 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 π’”π’π’Žπ’† π’•π’‰π’“π’π’˜π’…π’π’˜π’π’” π’Šπ’ 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 [𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’Šπ’π’…π’π’π’“ 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍] 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 π’‘π’π’Šπ’π’•, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 π’“π’†π’‚π’…π’š π’Šπ’‡ 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅… 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 π’˜π’‰π’‚π’• π’Šπ’• π’•π’‚π’Œπ’†π’”.”

Root’s Century Turns the Tide

Root was one of England’s standout performers on Day 4, scoring his 39th Test century in a high-pressure situation. His 105 off 152 deliveries, which included 12 boundaries, was pivotal in rescuing England from a precarious 106/3. Partnering with Harry Brook, Root stitched a 195-run stand that changed the course of the game.

Despite his injury, Woakes showed strong intent, preparing himself for a potential appearance on the final day. β€œI’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,” Root added when asked about Woakes’ readiness.

β€œIt Means a Huge Amount to Him” – Root

Root drew parallels between Woakes’ commitment and that of Rishabh Pant, who had batted earlier in the series with a fractured foot. The former captain praised Chris Woakes for being willing to play through immense pain in a bid to help England win the series.

β€œπ‘ͺπ’π’†π’‚π’“π’π’š, 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 π’Šπ’ 𝒂 π’‰π’–π’ˆπ’† π’‚π’Žπ’π’–π’π’• 𝒐𝒇 π’‘π’‚π’Šπ’ π’‰π’‚π’—π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 π’˜π’‰π’‚π’• 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆,” 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’…. β€œπ‘°π’• 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 π’”π’‰π’π’˜π’”, 𝒂𝒔 π’˜π’†β€™π’—π’† 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 π’‡π’“π’π’Ž 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 π’ˆπ’–π’šπ’” π’Šπ’ π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” π’”π’†π’“π’Šπ’†π’” – [π‘Ήπ’Šπ’”π’‰π’‚π’ƒπ’‰] 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒕 π’ƒπ’‚π’•π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ 𝒂 π’ƒπ’“π’π’Œπ’†π’ 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕, π’ˆπ’–π’šπ’” π’•π’‚π’Œπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 π’ƒπ’π’π’˜π’” – 𝒃𝒖𝒕 π’Šπ’• π’Žπ’†π’‚π’π’” 𝒂 π’‰π’–π’ˆπ’† π’‚π’Žπ’π’–π’π’• 𝒕𝒐 π’‰π’Šπ’Ž. 𝑰𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 π’”π’‰π’π’˜π’” 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 π’˜π’Šπ’π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒕 π’‰π’Šπ’” π’ƒπ’π’…π’š 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’π’Šπ’π’† π’π’Šπ’Œπ’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 π‘¬π’π’ˆπ’π’‚π’π’….”

With the series currently in the balance, all eyes will be on The Oval on Day 5 to see if England can seal a memorable win β€” and whether Chris Woakes will need to be their last line of defence with the bat.

Also Read: ENG vs IND 2025: Dinesh Karthik Slams Ben Stokes for β€˜WTC Excuse’

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