Chris Woakes is not expected to bat in England's first innings after sustaining a shoulder injury on the first day of play in the ongoing fifth Test against India at The Oval. Woakes sustained the injury trying to perform a diving stop near the boundary during the final session on Thursday. He fell awkwardly on his left shoulder and was immediately seen clutching his shoulder in pain.

Woakes left the field with his arm in a sling and did not return for the remainder of the day's play. In a statement on Friday morning, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Woakes will be unable to take any further part in the Test, with a final diagnosis made after the end of the series. Although it will be assessed after the Test, the chances of him being able to bat, particularly in the first innings, are very slim.

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Chris Woakes unlikely to bat after shoulder injury as England face crucial Test against India

Although the ECB hasn't ruled out a batting role behind a heavy set of restrictions, that would only happen in a state of absolute, cataclysmic crisis for England. As it stands, it seems as if Woakes won’t be batting unless they actually send him out, under crazy amounts of nuance that a player like Rishabh Pant pulling off an unforgettable innings one leg at Old Trafford in 2022.

England's batting is already challenged, because they are 208 for 5, versus India's 224. At the time of writing, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith were not out, but losing Woakes diminishes an already thin batting lineup.

To make matters worse, England are without their full-time captain, Ben Stokes ruled out of the decider with a shoulder injury. Woakes had made a good start to rectifying the situation, capturing KL Rahul early for England, but now has left the hosts with just three frontline bowlers. Don't get me wrong, Woakes not being able to bat is a blow for England and one that they can ill afford with the series finely poised at 2-2.