Woakes injury mars England's bizarre opening day
England somehow took six India wickets on a bizarre opening day of the decisive Test that was marred by a shoulder injury to Chris Woakes.Woakes was hurt chasing the ball to the boundary late in the day at The Oval and went from the field with his left arm in a makeshift sling, a further injury to a depleted England pace-bowling attack.It is an injury that could have serious ramifications to the outcome of the series. England, needing to avoid defeat to secure a 2-1 win, could be left with three seamers and the spin of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root.In the 64 overs that were possible either side of two chunky rain delays, England reduced the tourists to 204-6.The scoreline does not tell the full story of England's bowling, which veered from sublime to ridiculous after they won the toss for the fifth time in the series.The home side's effort was typified by Josh Tongue, who at times struggled to keep the ball on the cut strip and also bowled two near-unplayable deliveries to have both Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja caught behind.The curious cricket did not end there. India captain Shubman Gill, in such prolific form this series, ran himself out trying to take a ludicrous single. Bowler Gus Atkinson picked up the ball in his follow-through and his direct hit left the turning Gill short of his ground.That was part of a good day for Atkinson, comfortably England's best bowler in his first senior game in more than two months after a hamstring injury.From 153-6, India hung in through the determination of Karun Nair, who ended the day 52 not out.It left honours just about even, though England will surely now have to find a way to get through without Woakes.
England struggle deepens on surreal day
England were already without injured captain Ben Stokes, long-term absentee Mark Wood, and exhausted pair Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. Matthew Potts and Sam Cook have been overlooked.To field a makeshift attack in such a crucial Test is far from ideal, so the injury to Woakes is a huge blow. At the age of 36, there must be a concern for his future as an international cricketer.It came at the end of a surreal day. The weather, weary bodies and injuries that forced both teams into four changes apiece contributed to an odd spectacle.Standing in for Stokes, Ollie Pope would have been desperate to win the toss under a leaden sky on a green pitch. Gill again called incorrectly, an incredible 15th consecutive toss that India's men have lost across formats. This was the 22nd successive first-class match on this ground where the captain winning the toss has chosen to field.Given the conditions, England probably should be in a stronger position. The value of India's effort with the bat will be fully revealed when they come to bowl. It should not be difficult for the tourists to show greater consistency and therefore exploit the assistance on offer.Despite their mixed day with the ball, and the loss of Woakes, England are still one strong batting effort away from winning the series. They will have to dig incredibly deep over the final four days of the Test summer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Stuart Broad picks England bowling attack for first Ashes Test against Australia
Stuart Broad has selected his preferred England bowling attack for the first Test of this winter's Ashes against Australia and has prioritised raw pace. After the thrilling drawn series with India this summer, England's Test side are now turning their attention to a daunting trip Down Under, trying to win the famous old urn on Australian soil for the first time since 2010-11. In fact, England haven't even won a single Test in Australia since that 2010-11 tour and questions remain as to whether their bowling unit has enough quality to consistently take 20 wickets. In the pace stakes, they have a number of options and former England quick Broad, who now works as a pundit, has taken to social media to name his attack for the first Test in Perth, which begins on 21 November. He has oped for out-and-out pace, even though his selected seamers are injury-prone, and explained his reasoning for the line-up. On X (formerly Twitter), in answer to a tweet asking users for their England bowling attack for the first Test in Perth, Broad wrote: 'Wood, Archer, Atkinson, Bashir, Stokes. Go all out for the W there as have to start well and it's a bowler friendly pitch.' Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson are probably the three quickest options England have, although Wood and Atkinson spent at least part of the summer injured, while Archer finally played his first Test matches in more than four years after injury hell of his own. Broad would complement this pace trio with England skipper Ben Stokes, whose own bowling capabilities are often injury-limited but still have the ability to turn a match when they are unleashed, as shown by his brilliant 5-72 during India's first innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford last summer. Shoaib Bashir is Broad's spinner of choice and the 21-year-old will likely be competing with the likes of Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach for slow-bowler berth in England's XI for the Ashes. His reasoning for the make-up of the attack –that England need to be aggressive in their selection to try and win the first Test on a bowler-friendly pitch – is sound, although the lack of fitness reliability may cause a few jitters among England fans. After the first Test in Perth, the Ashes heads to the Gabba in Brisbane for a day-night encounter with the pink ball before more traditional Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne and then Sydney to finish. Australia have held the Ashes since 2018, having won the two series Down Under in that time 4-0 and retaining thanks to 2-2 draws in the pair of series in England.
BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bournemouth interested in Fulham's Zepa
Bournemouth are in talks to sign Fulham winger Macauley Zepa but expect competition from Nottingham Forest. The French youngster is looking to leave Craven Cottage amid concerns about his pathway into Marco Silva's first team having refused to sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday in July. Fulham would be due compensation but Bournemouth are looking to extend the ambition of their academy following renewed training ground investment under Bill Foley's ownership. Zepa scored 11 goals and supplied 10 assists in 30 league matches for Fulham's Under-18s last season and is understood to be negotiating terms over a move into Bournemouth's academy team. However, there is caution given known interest from Forest and the potential for a rival offer.
BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Last season 'biggest learning curve' - Imps' Draper
Lincoln City forward Freddie Draper has labelled last season "the biggest learning curve of his career" after scoring in the Imps' 3-1 victory at Harrogate Town in the Carabao 21-year-old grabbed his first goal since February and following the match gave an honest explanation for his previous 12-match goal drought."The way I came back last year wasn't good enough, really, for what I know I can do," Draper told BBC Radio Lincolnshire."My target is not having another season like last year – that just isn't me. I know I'm never going to be the fittest anyway but it's about putting myself in the right way."Much was expected of Draper when he returned from Walsall, where he scored 10 goals from 22 appearances in League Two during the 2023-24 campaign, but the forward registered four goals in 37 league appearances on his return to explained: "I was at Drogheda and then I went to Walsall and I went straight to Lincoln, I only had about a week in 18 months where I had a holiday."Then I probably went on too many holidays and tried to enjoy my break, so this season, I planned it a little bit better."I made sure I did all the runs, made sure my weight went down – I got leaner, stronger and more athletic."Last season was the biggest learning curve of my career. I don't want to let that happen again. I want to do everything I can: control the controllable." Against Harrogate, Draper played up front alongside Rob Street, linking up to good effect and could have scored, before his goal eventually came, when his diving header in the first half was well kept out. But Draper was self-critical of his misplaced pass which was intercepted by Harrogate's Ellis Taylor, who grabbed a consolation goal for the hosts deep in stoppage time with a long-range strike."I'll learn from it. I won't get carried away, [I'll] play simpler, and [next time] get the clean sheet because it's important for the team," Draper said."At the end of the day, it's not really good enough. You wouldn't do that at 1-0 would you? "I'm a little bit disappointed because I was pleased with my performance and that kind of puts a dampener on it."As a footballer, you just think about the bad things instead of the good things, so it humbles you quickly."
