Emotions engulf Oval as England, India play out classic

The sight of Chris Woakes emerging from the dressing room to walk gingerly down the stairs to the field of play at The Oval was one of pathos. He is not normally England’s No. 11 batter but, this time, injury dictated his position. Having fallen awkwardly and painfully on the third day in a valiant attempt to prevent a boundary being scored, he suffered a dislocated shoulder which prevented him from taking any further part in the match — until that moment, the last throw of the dice.

My vantage point at the top of the pavilion allowed me to watch England’s supporters rise to applaud his courage, their emotions raised by the fact that there was hope that their team might still win. Another 17 runs were required. In truth, Woakes cut a sad figure. His left shoulder had been heavily strapped across his chest in a sling underneath his pullover. His bat was held limply in his right hand. Surely it was inconceivable that he would have to or should be allowed to face a single delivery. So began a game of cat and mouse, the final sub-plot in a match packed full of them.

Woakes joined Gus Atkinson, who was eight not out and on strike. They had a long conversation. Shubman Gill, India’s inexperienced captain, directed his fielders with authority. They were sent deep to the boundary to persuade Atkinson to take a single. This was something he was unlikely to do, unless it was the last ball of the over. Instead, he needed to score in twos, fours or sixes, much easier to say than do. However, off the second ball of the 83rd over, he struck the ball toward the boundary, straight to a fielder, who was not standing on the boundary’s edge. Straining backwards, the ball passed through his hands and over the boundary for six runs,