England are hanging by a thread at The Oval, with the injured Chris Woakes potentially their last hope of sealing a series win in dramatic fashion. “Don’t know how I feel about any of this right now. How is Chris Woakes feeling?! Test cricket hey. This series has been superb and what a finish. Woakesy to hit the winning runs left handed? Nothing is out of the question!” former England pacer Stuart Broad posted on X, summing up the chaos and drama ahead of Monday morning’s finale. Woakes, nursing a shoulder injury and seen with his arm in a sling on Sunday, is technically England’s last man in. With the hosts still needing 17 runs to chase down 374 and clinch the series 3-1, Woakes walking out to bat could be either heroic or catastrophic — depending on the dressing room. England closed Day 4 at 339/6, with Jamie Smith (2*) and Jamie Overton (0*) at the crease. While Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) had earlier looked to wrap up the chase with dominant centuries, India hit back to keep the series alive.
Chris Woakes bats with his arm in a sling on day five of the 5th Test at The Oval on Monday (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Brook fell to Akash Deep after being dropped on 19 before lunch, Bethell dragged on for a soft dismissal, and Root was caught behind in a brilliant wicket-maiden by Prasidh Krishna (3-109). England, who had chased down 371 in Leeds earlier in the series, suddenly looked fragile again. On Day 5, Krishna appeared to let England regain control by conceding back-to-back boundaries. But Mohammed Siraj turned up the heat. First, he removed Jamie Smith, caught behind by Dhruv Jurel. Then, in the same 80th over, he trapped Overton lbw — reducing England to nine wickets down.Prasidh Krishna then clean bowled Josh Tongue, forcing the injured Woakes to come out to bat. He had his injured left shoulder in a sling underneath his shirt and opted to bat with his left hand.
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