A five-Test series is a gruelling test for players, especially fast bowlers. The few major injuries led to the debate around whether injury replacements should be allowed in Test cricket, similar to the concussion substitute. The debate surfaced when Rishabh Pant suffered a fracture in toe in the first innings, ruling him out of fifth Test and wicketkeeping at the Old Trafford, Manchester. England captain Ben Stokes dismissed the idea as “ridiculous” and still stands by what he said after Chris Woakes’ shoulder dislocation left England with 10 men, even though he braved the injury and walked out to bat on Day 5 at The Oval.
"If someone gets injured, tough shit. Deal with it," Stokes said in the post-match press conference.
But, Stokes lauded Woakes, Shoaib Bashir and Pant for stepping on the field for the team despite injury and a lot of discomfort.
"He (Woakes) was in a lot of discomfort," Stokes said. "We've had Rishabh going out to bat with a broken foot, Bash [Shoaib Bashir] going out there bowling - and batting and fielding - with a broken finger. Then we go to Chris out there today, trying to get his team over the line with a quite recently dislocated shoulder… Everyone's left a lot out on the ground for their countries."
Stokes himself missed the fifth and final Test due to a shoulder injury he sustained in Manchester. Also, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse were rested to manage their workload.
Woakes’ brave stay at the crease
Woakes walked out to bat at no.11 with his dislocated arm tucked under the jumper. He needed help from Ben Davies to pad up. Since, he would use just one arm to hold the bat, he wore two small arm guards on it. He protected his left-arm as well with protection to prevent getting injured in case he has to face the Indian fast bowlers.
Fortunately, Woakes did not have to face a delivery. But, he had to rush towards the striker’s end to sneak a run via byes and get Gus Atkinson on strike. As wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel missed the stumps, and Woakes survived, he was visibly in agonising pain but continued to march on.
Why Stokes is against injury replacements?
The ICC is already asked the cricket boards to test in in their respective first-class cricket setups. It is still in trial stage and far from becoming a rule in international cricket.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous that there's a conversation around an injury replacement," Stokes said. "I think that there would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your 11 for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement: player welfare, [and] player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straightaway.
"If you stick anyone else with an MRI scanner, a bowler is going to show, 'Oh yeah, you've got a bit of inflammation around your knee. Oh sweet, we can get another fresh bowler in'. I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped."