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"Tough S**t": Ben Stokes Gives Firm Verdict On Injury Subs After Woakes Heroics

Soumyajit Dutta

Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/X.com]Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/X.com]

The England vs India fifth Test at The Oval saw a nerve-wracking finish, with India winning the match by 6 runs and levelling the series 2-2. While the series result was a dead rubber, the action on the final day was enough to thrill the crowd.

Chris Woakes’ heroic gesture with the bat on the final day was a perfect example of what the game means to a cricketer, as he came out to bat with one hand due to a shoulder injury.

Stokes Affirms Stance On Injury Subs Rule

England skipper Ben Stokes, who was also ruled out of the game due to injury, spoke about Woakes’ massive gesture and how the rules around substitutes are to be respected instead of calling in replacements.

"Sorry about this, but if somebody gets injured, tough s***. I could’ve gone into this with a sore shoulder [saying] ‘I’ll give it a go, hopefully I’ll come through, but if I don’t then somebody comes in’. [Then] you select a team tactically and I think you could manipulate it. The injury ruled me out of this game," Stokes said in the press conference.

Notably, international cricket rules don't allow for a substitute in case of injured players during a match. Only concussion substitutes are allowed during the match. Hence, Woakes came out to bat with a sling as the Oval crowd applauded him. Luckily, Woakes didn't have to face a ball but he was in visual pain as he was struggling to run to rotate strikes.

Stokes Regrets His Injury

Stokes added the fact that the rule of substitution should be followed, and Woakes' injury couldn't be helped.

"The injury that I did have ruled me out of this game, but maybe if we did have that option in a pretty big game in a series, I could have gone, 'nah this is worth it', if I do go down at least I've got someone else to come in. Part of that was that I can't risk doing this long term, but also if I do go down in this game then that completely ruins the whole make-up of the team. So I'm still heavily against it... My view has not changed." Stokes added.

While Chris Woakes' valour didn't get the end result, Stokes appreciated his efforts as Siraj swept Atkinson off his feet to clean bowl him to bag India's narrowest Test win ever. For the Men in Blue, the next assignment lies in the Asia Cup, where they will face UAE in the first match on September 10.