'My Arm Was Just Hanging There...': Chris Woakes Reflects On Horror Shoulder Injury During Oval Test
English bowler Chris Woakes earned plaudits for his courageous effort to come out to bat in the fifth and final Test of the series between India and England at the Oval in the hosts' 6-run defeat that levelled the series at 2-2.
Woakes, who had dislocated his shoulder while fielding on the penultimate day of the Test, came out to take the crease before Mohammed Siraj scalped the tenth and final wicket of the English chase.
Woakes might not have been able to give his side the win on the day, which would have translated to them clinching the series, but he was extended a standing ovation by the passionate crowd nonetheless for his courage to just walk out to the middle with his arm in a sling.
Following the conclusion of the series, Woakes reflected on the horrific injury that ended with him enduring a dislocated left shoulder.
'We chase down every run. That has always been the way. As a bowler, you really respect guys trying to save every run. It means a lot to you. So you kind of do the same for the team," he explained.
'The outfield was wet from the rain, almost greasy, and my hand slipped as I landed and my full body weight went through my shoulder. I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble.
Woakes reflected on the grim thought that preoccupied his mind following the nasty fall while treatment was being extended to the pacer.
'The pain came on pretty quickly and my arm was just hanging there. It was grim and my thoughts were racing. 'Is it game over? Is it career done?' It was a horrible place to be. We got it into a makeshift sling with my jumper and got off the field," the 36-year-old said.
The English quick went on to laud the impeccable work done by the medical team to limit the damage and
'It is a horrible feeling, your shoulder not where it should be and worrying it might never get back in. It felt like three hours but the medical staff were amazing," the pacer added.
'I had this vape pen thing which tasted rank but took the edge off, pain-wise. First we tried me lying flat on my front on the bench and letting the arm hang down to do it. But the pain was too much to get into position.
Wokaes also touched upon the moment the medical team felt they had addressed the issue, but the seamer's pectoral muscles acted up and the painful process had to be repeated before his shoulder was popped back ino the socket.
'In the end it was just a case of lying on my back and Anita gradually straightening my arm and trying that way. We thought we had it in with a 'clunk' but then my pectoral muscle spasmed and rejected it," he said.
'That was horrendous. Another 10 minutes or so, with her knee in my armpit, there was another 'clunk' and it was back it properly. It hurt but there was such a feeling of relief with it, too," the pacer added.
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