Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain, talked about England pacer Chris Woakes’ shoulder injury, which forced him to leave the game. During India’s first innings on Day 1, specifically in the 57th over, Woakes hurt his left shoulder while trying to save a boundary.
Gavaskar commented on this, saying on Sony Sports: I don’t get why fast bowlers try so hard to save a single run. Their main job is to bowl. That one run isn’t a game-changer unless the match is really close. I don’t think they should be diving around like that.
In cricket, if a player gets a concussion, they can be replaced with someone similar. But for other injuries, a substitute can only field or keep wicket, not bat or bowl.
Gavaskar added, If it’s a clear injury, like a break, then they should allow a like-for-like replacement. They allow a substitute wicketkeeper if the original one is hurt, like when Dhruv Jurel kept wicket in the last game because Rishabh Pant was injured. That’s allowed because wicketkeeping is Pant’s main skill.
Pant also injured his foot while batting in the Manchester Test. Jurel substituted for him as wicketkeeper but couldn’t bat because the rules only allowed Pant to bat.
Woakes’ absence in the fifth Test leaves England with a less experienced attack, as the remaining bowlers have only played a combined 18 Test matches for England.
Woakes bowled 14 overs on Day 1, taking 1 wicket for 46 runs. His injury adds to England’s worries, as they were already missing key players for the final Test, including captain Ben Stokes, who was out with a right shoulder injury.
Woakes has been a key player for England in the series, being one of only two seamers (along with Mohammed Siraj of India) to play in all five matches. He bowled 181 overs in the series and took 11 wickets at an average of 52.18.