Injured England all-rounder Chris Woakes will be available to bat on day five of the series finale against India at The Oval if required, teammate Joe Root has confirmed.
Woakes was ruled out of the remainder of the fifth Test in London after suffering a suspected shoulder dislocation while attempting to prevent a boundary during India’s first innings, an injury that has put his hopes of an Ashes call-up in doubt.
Courtesy of hundreds to Root and Harry Brook, England is 35 runs away from completing its second-highest successful run chase in Test history, while the tourists need four wickets to seal a famous victory and tie the series at 2-2.
“I’d like think we have got what we need to get across the line tomorrow,” Root told reporters at stumps on day four.
“It’s been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey and the confidence in our dressing room, clearly we feel we have got the players to get us across the line.
“We are in for a great day tomorrow.”
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Woakes practised batting one-handed at the venue’s indoor nets on Sunday, while the 36-year-old was seen wearing his whites in the England changing rooms during the evening session, albeit with his arm in a sling.
Root confirmed that Woakes would be willing to “put his body on the line” to help England win the series finale if required.
“He’s all in, like the rest of us,” Root declared.
“It’s been that kind of series where guys have had to put bodies on the line.
“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that but he had some throw-downs in here at one point so he’s ready if needed. He’s desperate to do what it takes.”
He continued: “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 (in Manchester), 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.”
West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall batted one-handed with a fractured thumb during the 1984 Headingley Test against England — which allowed teammate Larry Gomes to score a century — while former South African captain Graeme Smith famously walked out to bat with a damaged hand in an attempt to help the Proteas salvage a draw during the 2009 New Year’s Test against Australia at the SCG.
Elsewhere, Pakistan’s Saleem Malik switched his stance and batted left-handed after suffering a broken arm during the 1986 Faisalabad Test against the West Indies.
“I’m not sure,” Root responded when asked about Woakes would go about his innings.
“I’ve not seen him practice yet. You might get a better indication tomorrow if he has some throwdowns in the morning.”
The fifth Test between England and India will resume on Monday at 8pm AEST.