2 days ago
Chris Woakes shows positive recovery from dislocated shoulder ahead of Ashes series
England pacer Chris Woakes has provided a welcome boost to the team's Ashes preparations by revealing positive news on his recovery from a dislocated shoulder. The 35-year-old sustained the injury while fielding during the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval earlier this month but is optimistic about his who has been a key figure in England's attack across formats, was ruled out of the remainder of the match after the incident. However, in a show of remarkable grit, he returned to bat on the tense final morning with his left arm in a sling as England pushed for a series-clinching win. Despite his efforts, the hosts fell just six runs to Sky Sports on the sidelines of The Hundred, Woakes appeared without the sling for the first time in public since the injury, signaling an important step in his recovery. "Certainly good news for me. That's the best way to look at it," Woakes said. "Obviously out of the sling and I feel like I can move it a lot better now, which is good two weeks down the line.
"I suppose once you get a little bit more movement into it, it feels a little bit more normal. But there's still a lot of work to do. I'm going to try and stay focused on the rehab and get it as strong as possible. Ideally, I won't need surgery for now, but we'll see how that goes and hopefully we can get it nice and strong again."Earlier this month, Woakes had told BBC Sport that he was still deciding whether to undergo surgery or opt solely for rehabilitation. His latest comments suggest that, for the time being, he is favouring the non-surgical route in a bid to be fit for the first Test of the series against Australia begins in Perth on 21 November, giving Woakes just over three months to complete his recovery. England's selectors will be encouraged by the prospect of having the experienced seamer available, particularly given his ability to contribute with both bat and injury was one of the most dramatic moments of the India series, occurring on the opening day of the decider. His decision to bat despite the dislocation was widely praised as a sign of his commitment to the team's cause.- EndsMust Watch
