ENG vs IND 2025: 'Your main job is to bowl' - Sunil Gavaskar questions Chris Woakes for risking injury while fielding

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on Chris Woakes' shoulder injury, which forced the England pacer to leave the field during the 57th over of India’s first innings on Day 1 of the fifth Test. The incident occurred when Woakes landed awkwardly on his left shoulder while attempting to stop a boundary hit by Karun Nair.

Woakes received immediate medical attention from the England physio and was seen using his sweater as a makeshift sling as he walked back to the dressing room. Gavaskar questioned the risk taken by the bowler, stating that stopping the ball to save just one run was unlikely to make a significant impact on the match and ultimately came at a high personal cost.

"First and foremost, I don't understand fast bowlers trying to save one run. Your main job is to bowl. So that one run is not going to make a huge difference unless it is such a tight match, you are coming towards the end. I see these fast bowlers diving and sliding. I believe they should not be doing it," Gavaskar said on Sony Sports as quoted by NDTV Sports.

Chris Woakes ruled out of remainder of fifth Test

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Chris Woakes ruled out of remainder of fifth Test

Notably, in cricket, a like-for-like replacement is permitted only in the case of a concussion under the concussion substitute rule. In all other injury scenarios, a substitute fielder may be used for fielding or wicketkeeping duties, but they are not allowed to bat or bowl.

"If it is an obvious injury and it is clearly something that you have seen happen. A break or fracture for example. There should be a like-for-like substitute. You are allowing for a wicketkeeper if he is injured, but not in the playing XI. For example we saw Dhruv Jurel coming and keeping wicket in the previous game (Manchester Test). You are allowing that because that is Rishabh Pant's speciality," Gavaskar added.

Woakes' absence in the fifth Test has left England's bowling attack lacking experience, with the remaining bowlers collectively holding just 18 Test caps. Before being sidelined, Woakes bowled 14 overs on Day 1, finishing with figures of 1 for 46. Over the course of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he has bowled 181 overs, picking up 11 wickets.