England captain Ben Stokes on the Ashes availability of seamer Chris Woakes
Woakes dislocated his shoulder early in the fifth Test at the Oval but courageously walked to the crease with his arm in a sling on day five.
He didn't face a ball but was prepared to counter the Mohammed Siraj-inspired Indian attack left handed.
Despite struggling in Australia – averaging 51 with the ball Down Under – Woakes would still be one of England's first-choice quicks for the upcoming Ashes.
England captain Ben Stokes said Woakes was yet to see a specialist as he remained intent on seeing out the fifth Test.
But that specialist would decide whether the 36-year-old pushed a case for the first Test in November at Perth Stadium.
'You obviously don't get that chance (to see a specialist) with a game going on, so that (availability for the Ashes) won't be known until later,' Stokes said.
Chris Woakes leaves the field after attempting to bat one handed. Picture:)\
Woakes did not bat in the first innings but walked to the middle when England needed 17 to win the Test match.
He followed the courageous efforts of Graeme Smith, Nathan Lyon, Dean Jones and Rick McCosker who have all batted under extreme duress.
Stokes said he had no doubt Woakes would bat if required and claimed it emblematic of the unrelenting series.
'Unbelievable, but it was never going to be a question for him to be out there, he was in a lot of discomfort running between the wickets there,' Stokes said.
Ben Stokes (right) commiserates with Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes. Picture:'We've had guys go out, Rishabh (Pant) going out and batting with a broken foot, Bash (Bashir) bowling and fielding with a broken finger.
'Then Chris going out there today trying to get the team over the line with a recently dislocated shoulder.
'It just goes back to how much energy and effort has been put into the series by both teams, everyone has left a lot out on the grounds for their country this series.
'I didn't give him a chance to give him a tap on the back and say, 'Go well', but coming off there it was pretty obvious what was said.
'(I said) 'Good effort' and unbelievable, he just shrugged his shoulder and said, 'I wouldn't do anything else'.'
Tyler Lewis
Sports reporter
Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east.
@tmlew_
Tyler Lewis
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