India snatch famous Test victory despite courageous one-armed effort from England's Woakes
In a thrilling finish, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj bowled Gus Atkinson to seal a famous victory by six runs – India's narrowest Test win – and level the series at the Oval.
Woakes walked out to bat with England needing 17 runs for victory, his left arm tucked inside his vest in scenes reminiscent of West Indies great Malcolm Marshall, who once batted with a broken arm.
Woakes, who grimaced every time he ran, had dislocated his shoulder on the opening day of the Test and was prepared to bat with one arm.
However, his batting partner, Atkinson, was determined to protect him from the strike by swinging hard in an effort to get the remaining runs, and Woakes did not have to face a ball. He was toppled by a Siraj yorker for 17.
Siraj's heroics in bowling his team to victory completed an epic series, and in England's case a fascinating preview for this summer's Ashes series in Australia.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
England fans lose minds over Mohammed Siraj's fifth Test celebration
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. England cricket fans have fumed that India should be disqualified from their Test match victory after Mohammed Siraj's 'cringe' celebration. Siraj, 31, didn't hold back during his celebrations after India stunned England to win the Fifth Test by six runs, The Sun reports. Australia vs South Africa T20I & ODI Series | Watch every ball LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Siraj and his teammates pulled off a devastating showing as they took three wickets in just over 30 minutes of play to leave an injured Chris Woakes needing to take to the crease with his arm in a sling. Woakes, who has been out of the series since dislocating his shoulder on day one of the final Test, was forced to come out and partner Gus Atkinson and bat with one hand as England searched for just 17 runs to win the series. The drama came to an end when Siraj bowled out Atkinson to win the Test and draw the series. And the fast-bowler made sure everyone packed inside The Oval knew exactly how much it meant to him as he leapt up and celebrated by emulating Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebration in the middle of the pitch. Mohammed Siraj celebrates after taking the final wicket to win the Test and level the series. (Photo byfor Surrey CCC) The Indian star hit Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration. (Photo byfor Surrey CCC) But England fans were left furious by the celebration, slamming it as 'cringe' and excessive. One fan wrote: 'I just cringed so hard at Siraj pulling the Siu in the middle of The Oval.' While another added: 'That celebration is shocking'. A third fumed: 'Why are they celebrating like they won the whole thing?' And a fourth even suggested India should be disqualified, writing: 'India should be disqualified from winning that purely on the basis of Siraj doing Ronaldo's celebration. God that's cringe'. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Others praised Siraj for his moment of brilliance that tied the series for India. One wrote: 'Siraj, what a spell. And that celebration … chills. When Ronaldo is your idol, greatness isn't a choice, it's fate.' And a second posted: 'Yeah, Siraj has got that clutch Ronaldo gene'. England captain Ben Stokes said that his team were 'bitterly disappointed' not to get over the line and win the series following India's dramatic final Test victory. Siraj played the role of hero for India during the final Test. (Photo by) 'Both teams have put so much energy and effort into this whole series, it's been an amazing one to be a part of,' Stokes said to Sky Sports. 'Obviously bitterly disappointed that we couldn't get over the line here, but (it's been) a series that has made me very proud of my team and everything they've thrown into this. 'We obviously would have loved to have come away with the series win but it wasn't meant to be'. This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission. Originally published as England fans lose minds over Mohammed Siraj's series-ending act
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Exceeds expectations': Lions a win for Rugby Australia
With the coffers bolstered by a larger than expected Lions windfall, Rugby Australia feels in good shape on and off the field heading into a home World Cup in 2027. Winning the third Test in a rousing performance Sydney, the Wallabies ended the series as 2-1 losers for the second successive tour but RA boss Phil Waugh says the close contest across the series secured its future. There was talk pre-tour that an uncompetitive Wallabies outfit could lead to Australia losing the 12-yearly series, with France touted as an alternative Lions destination. "We saw on the field, they got one point better than us and one try better than us and it was a really fierce Test battle," Waugh said. "Any of that speculation was shut down by a number of people, including their CEO, who spoke at various events committing to returning to Australia. "It would have been been nice to win the series, but if you look at the nine games across the country, the record (MCG) crowd, sold-out stadiums ... both in Rugby Australia but more broadly into the economy, it's been very successful off the field. "And then we've seen the progress of the Wallabies group. "It's been an overwhelmingly successful tour - it would have been nice to obviously win the trophy, but that wasn't to happen." RA was predicted to pocket more than $100 million from the tour, which will help clear the $60 million they've already spent from an $80 million loan taken out to safeguard the code. Waugh said while the figures were still being finalised, they had "exceeded expectations". "We're working through how the funds are flowing through on the back of the tour now but it's certainly exceeded expectations," the former Test flanker said. "It's been a good opportunity for us to reset the balance sheet and being quite overt and transparent around the fact that we've got the debt facility and ideally we pay that down as quickly as possible given the cost to carry it. "We're still planning to reset the balance sheet, clear the debt position and then lean into the next broadcast cycle to get to a financially sustainable model." Under coach Joe Schmidt the Wallabies have climbed back up the rankings to world No.6 following the all-time low of the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool exit. While Les Kiss has already been named as his successor, Schmidt will stay on until midway through next year after initially only signing on until the end of the Lions campaign. Waugh said the timeline still had the Wallabies on track for success at the next World Cup tournament in Australia despite Kiss only having a year in the hot seat. "We've been really considered and disciplined around the process of planning through to '27 and the transition plan we have for Joe and for Les," Waugh said. "Obviously the history that Les has had with Joe allows for a really seamless transition through to August next year. "The similarities between Joe and Les gives us great confidence that it's the right plan and we're on the right path." The Wallabies have the week off before they fly out for two Rugby Championship Tests against world champions South Africa, with the first in Johannesburg on August 17 (AEDT). RA remain hopeful powerhouse lock Will Skelton, who plays club rugby in France, will be available, saying he will be part of the medical checks this week.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
Stokes: I'm looking forward to getting to Australia
For months, England captain Ben Stokes has avoided talking about the Ashes in Australia as much as possible. But after a Test match - and series - for the ages against India, even he is prepared to mention it and firmly believes his side are battle hardened after the draining series that finished in a chaotic defeat at The Oval on Monday. More than 7000 runs were scored in the five Tests, but just when England were in need of fewer than 50 runs for the final five wickets, they lost. The last time that happened to them in a fourth innings while chasing victory was in 1902, against Australia at Old Trafford Stokes was England's most effective bowler in the series but exhausted himself into a shoulder injury that forced him to miss The Oval. Stokes praised his seam attack - deprived of himself, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes, who came out to bat with a dislocated shoulder but did not have to face - for running India so close in the six-run defeat that squared a superb series. "When one of your bowlers goes down so early in the game, the role of the other seamers changes," Stokes said. "Even in the second innings, the heart and desire they showed was amazing. There were many what-ifs in the last five days, makes the game great, but all (coach) Brendon (McCullum) and I asked was to give it everything. (Josh) Tongue, (Gus) Atkinson and (Jamie) Overton showed it. "The way in which we've been able to perform throughout the series, I'm looking forward to getting to Australia and doing what we want to go out there and do." England and India both wasted earlier chances to win the fifth Test but after India took the final four wickets in a hectic 57 minutes of play on the final morning, Stokes accepted the conclusion was deserved. "The series as a whole has been pretty much toe-to-toe for 25 days. From a cricket fan's point of view, 2-2 is probably fair," he said. "Two very good teams who have thrown everything at each other and left everything out there. We obviously would have loved to get a series win but it wasn't meant to be. "We're bitterly disappointed we couldn't get over the line but it was another hard-fought game and both teams put so much energy and effort into the series, it's been an amazing one to be part of. "There's a little bit of frustration there as well but as a massive advocate of this format and for Test cricket as a whole, this has certainly been one of those series that could hopefully keep off the narrative around 'Test cricket is dying'." Stokes said he was looking forward to being well rested for the first Ashes test against Australia, in Perth, on November 21, but if he is fit, there are serious questions over who will join him in England's attack. Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have both missed more Tests than they have played in recent years and the chances of Woakes being fit to bowl in less than four months must be remote. England have not won a Test in Australia since 2011, something David Warner will doubtless be reminding them of during his stint playing for London Spirit in The Hundred over the next few weeks. With agencies
