England vs India: Chris Woakes out of fifth Test after shoulder injury

England pace bowler Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the remainder of the decisive fifth Test against India after suffering a shoulder injury on the opening day at The Oval.

Woakes was tumbling to make a boundary stop late on Thursday when he landed awkwardly. He went from the field with his left arm in a makeshift sling, in obvious discomfort.

The 36-year-old was assessed overnight and before play on the second day England confirmed he will take no further part.

England said a “further assessment will be conducted at the conclusion of the series”.

The injury leaves the home side in a precarious position in the fifth Test, where they need to avoid defeat in order to win the series.

England had already re-jigged their side after captain Ben Stokes was ruled out with a shoulder injury of his own.

Now Woakes’ absence leaves England with only Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue as frontline seamers, supplemented by the spin of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root.

India closed the first day on 204-6 after England won the toss and opted to field first.

The injury is cruel on Woakes, the only England pace bowler to have featured in every Test of the gruelling five-match series.

On flat pitches in the previous four Tests, he struggled to make a impact, taking 10 wickets. On day one at The Oval, Woakes had India opener KL Rahul play on to his stumps before suffering the injury.

Given his poor record away from home, Woakes was already facing a battle to be part of England’s squad for the Ashes tour this winter. There will be concerns this injury threatens his future in international cricket.

Woakes’ injury is also a huge blow to an England pace attack already depleted by injuries and exhaustion.

On top of Stokes, Mark Wood is a long-term absentee. Olly Stone is only just returning to fitness following a knee injury.

Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer were both left out at The Oval following their previous workload in this series.