ENG vs IND 2025: 'Chris Woakes is ready to bat on Day 5 at The Oval if needed' - Joe Root

Former England captain Joe Root confirmed that the injured Chris Woakes will come out to bat if he is needed to on Day 5 of the fifth and final Test match. The Test match is intriguingly poised at The Oval, with England needing 35 runs with four wickets remaining on the final day.

Root failed to convert his start in the first innings. However, he showcased his class in the second innings, scoring his 39th Test century on the penultimate day of the clash. His 105-run knock came off 152 deliveries comprised 12 fours. Root's 195-run partnership with Harry Brook came off just 211 balls and it changed the mindset of the England team, which had earlier got into a bit of a tough spot early in the morning session, having slumped to 106/3.

During the closing stages of Day 4, Woakes was spotted wearing the whites in the England dressing room. He suffered a shoulder injury while fielding on Day 1 and will most likely require surgery. However, after not batting in the first innings, Woakes seems to be prepared to put on a fight with the willow on Day 5.

"He's all-in, like the rest of us. It's been that kind of series, where guys have had to put bodies on the line. Hopefully, it doesn't get to that. But he had some throwdowns in here [the indoor school] at one point, and he's ready if needed… He's desperate to do what it takes," Root said after the end of play on Day 4.

For the unversed, the England seamer is struggling with what is a suspected shoulder dislocation. The 36-year-old practiced batting one-handed in the indoor school on Sunday, and changed into his whites during the evening session, readying himself to bat at No. 11 if required.

"I'm not sure. I've not seen him practice yet. You might get a better indication tomorrow if he has some throwdowns in the morning," Root said.

Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain having done what he's done: Root

Root, who slammed his 39th Test century on Sunday, said that Woakes is in a lot of pain but he could replicate Rishabh Pant's heroics from the fourth Test, where the wicketkeeper-batter had walked out to bat despite fracturing his foot. The right-handed batter hoped that Woakes, despite being willing to bat through pain, won't be needed as the other batters would be able to get the job done.

"Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain having done what he's done. It just shows, as we've seen from other guys in this series - [Rishabh] Pant batting with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows here and there - but it means a huge amount to him. It just shows the character and the person that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England, and hopefully - well, hopefully he doesn't have to, but if it does come to that - get us across the line and win us an incredible series," Root said.