England all-rounder Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury during the 5th Test between England and India at The Oval. Woakes has expressed his preference to avoid surgery for the injured shoulder, opting instead for rehabilitation in hopes of being ready for the important Ashes series starting November 2025-26.
The 36-year-old injured himself on day one while fielding, dislocating his shoulder while trying to stop a boundary. This forced him to withdraw from the match. He is currently awaiting scan results to assess the injury further.
Despite being ruled out, Chris Woakes returned to bat in the second innings with his left shoulder in a sling. England required 17 runs with one wicket remaining when he came to the crease. Although he didn’t face a ball, he supported Gus Atkinson at the non-striker’s end. Unfortunately, England narrowly lost the match by six runs.
Chris Woakes: Surgery Rehab Could Take 3–4 Months, Prefers Rehab to Play in The Ashes
In an interview with BBC Sport, England all-rounder Chris Woakes revealed that recovery from surgery would likely take three to four months. Because of this, he’s leaning toward rehabilitation as a way to return in time for The Ashes.
“I guess there’s always a chance the injury could come back, but that’s a risk you might be willing to take. From what physios and specialists have told me, surgery rehab would take about three to four months,” Chris Woakes explained.
“That timing is pretty close to The Ashes and the trip to Australia, which complicates things. But through rehab, you could potentially get it strong again in around eight weeks. So that’s an option, though we’re still waiting on the full medical report,” he added.
Chris Woakes earned widespread praise for his courageous effort to bat despite the injury, receiving a standing ovation from the Oval crowd on day five. The five-match Test series between India and England concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Looking ahead, The Ashes 2025-26 will begin on November 21 with the first Test in Perth. England and Australia will face off in five Tests, with the final match scheduled from January 4 to 8 in Sydney.
