In a massive boost for England, all-rounder Chris Woakes will be available to bat on Day five of the ongoing India vs England Test. The veteran player suffered a blow to his shoulder on Day One of the Oval Test. He also did not come out to bowl during India's second innings. However, if the hosts need him to bat, he will be available to play, with the team needing only 35 runs & four wickets in hand.
Joe Root lavished huge praise on Woakes, calling him an absolute team player as he always delivers for the team whenever needed.
"He's all-in, like the rest of us," Joe Root said after a dramatic fourth day on Sunday (August 3). "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 throw downs in here [indoor nets] at one point, and he's ready if needed... He's desperate to do what it takes."
While we have seen India's Rishabh Pant walking out to bat with an injured right foot, Root said Woakes was in significant pain after dislocating his shoulder.
"I'm not sure, I've not seen him practice yet. You might get a better indication tomorrow if he has some throw downs in the morning," Root said. "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."
Joe Root lavishes praise on Harry Brook's match-turning innings
Joe Root, who scored his 39th hundred and brought England to a touching distance of victory, lavished huge praise on Harry Brook, who scored an exhilarating ton at a brisk strike rate. The 25-year-old, who is called 'Generational Talent,' walked the talk by dominating the Indian bowlers on the Day four Oval surface. Root said he and Brook complement each other well.
"I think one of the most important things about batting is building a partnership and understanding the impact that you both have on each other, and being able to dovetail well together. And we've both got very contrasting games," Root said. "But I think that works really well in our favour. He obviously plays slightly more expansively than I do and has an amazing array of shots. But the amount of pressure he puts back on the opposition, the way that he takes calculated risks at the right moments, and can open a game completely up like he did today.
"You look around and there's a deep long off to their premier bowlers. It's amazing being able to play a second fiddle to that and watch it in the best seat in the house. He's an incredible talent, and it's not like he's a one-off fluke. He's got 10 hundreds playing in a very simple manner. He's incredibly consistent at it, and there's definitely a huge amount of method behind what he does. And the impact that he's had on this Test match is why we're sat here needing 35 to win. It's been an incredible knock."
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Root & Brook put on a 195-run stand for the fifth wicket, which came of just 211 balls. The latter was the aggressor as he oozed class right through his knock. The hosts now need only 35 runs to take the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and win the series 3-1.
