‘First and foremost, I don’t understand…’: Sunil Gavaskar unhappy with England star player for…, his name is…

New Delhi: England pacer Chris Woakes was ruled out of the field on the first day of the ongoing fifth Test against India after he suffered a serious shoulder injury. While stopping a shot hit by Karun Nair towards long-off in the 57th over, Woakes dived in an awkward manner, causing his left shoulder to hit the ground. He then lay on the field in pain and received first aid from the England physio. He later returned to the pavilion, supporting his shoulder with a sweater.

Gavaskar Objects: “The Job of Fast Bowlers Is to Bowl”

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his opinion on the entire incident. He said, “First of all, I don’t understand why fast bowlers risk their bodies to save a run. Their main job is to bowl. If the match is not very tight, then saving a single run doesn’t make a big difference. I see these bowlers diving and sliding. I think they should avoid doing this.”

Gavaskar also commented on the rules regarding injured players

He further questioned the current regulations, saying, “If a player has a clear injury—like a fracture or a broken bone—then a ‘like-for-like’ substitute should be allowed. Just as it is permitted for wicketkeepers, it should be allowed for other players as well. In the last Test (Manchester), we saw Dhruv Jurel take over the wicketkeeping duties from Rishabh Pant, but he was not allowed to bat.”

Woakes’ Absence Puts England in Trouble

Chris Woakes’ injury has dealt a major blow to England. His absence has left England’s bowling attack lacking experience, with the remaining bowlers having a combined total of just 18 Test appearances. On Day 1, Woakes bowled 14 overs and returned figures of 1 for 46.

Woakes Has Been England’s Reliable Bowler Throughout the Series

The 35-year-old Woakes has been a dependable performer for England in the ongoing series. Along with India’s Mohammed Siraj, he is one of only two fast bowlers to have played all five matches. Woakes has bowled 181 overs in the series and taken 11 wickets at an average of 52.18. Captain Ben Stokes had already been ruled out of the final Test due to a shoulder injury, adding further to England’s concerns.

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