Ben Stokes has reiterated his belief that injury substitutions should not be introduced in Test cricket despite the loss of his senior bowler Chris Woakes to a dislocated shoulder early in the decisive fifth Test, which India won by six runs.
The England captain said after the Old Trafford Test, when the India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant went out to bat with a broken foot, that he was firmly against injury substitutions other than for concussion and that it “shouldn’t even be a discussion”. He stood firm in this view even after the sight of Woakes going out to bat with his left arm in a sling in an attempt to help England win the final match of a dramatic series.
“I just don’t see it being a thing,” said Stokes, who was ruled out of the match with a shoulder injury. “If someone gets injured then tough shit. Deal with it. I could have gone into this game knowing I had a sore shoulder saying, ‘I’ll give it a go. Hopefully I come through, but if not I know I have someone who can come in and replace me.’ Select an XI and it’s actually tactical. I feel like there is room where you could manipulate it a little bit.
Both sides were hit by injuries during 25 days’ play in the epic series, with India’s Pant returning to bat with a broken foot at Old Trafford
STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES
“I’m still heavily against it. It’s sod’s law that this has happened [to Woakes] the week after I said I was against it, but my view has not changed.”
Despite not being able to get over the line to win the series 3-1, Stokes said such an entertaining and gripping contest was a great advert for the format.
“From a cricket fan’s point of view 2-2 is probably fair,” he said. “Obviously, we are disappointed not to get the result that we wanted to give us a series win but, as a massive advocate of this format and Test cricket as a whole, this has certainly been one of those series that could hopefully keep off that narrative around Test cricket dying.
“The series has been fantastic to be part of. It’s been toe to toe for 25 days. Two very good teams who have thrown everything at each other and left nothing out there.”
Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, echoed the sentiments of his captain. “This is the best five-match Test series I have ever been a part of and witnessed,” he said. “It just oscillated so much, right throughout the six weeks, and I felt it had everything.
“I thought there was hostility at times, camaraderie at times, great cricket at times, there was some average cricket because of the pressure they were put under. We knew it was going to be hard coming into the series. Playing all five days of all five Tests becomes mental exertion. It is the hardest thing in cricket playing a five-game series and being tested as much as you are for as long as you are. It tests you not just as a sportsperson but as a character because it questions how much you want it.”
Stokes said there was never a question over whether Woakes would pad up and go out to the middle if required.
“He spent yesterday trying to figure out whether he’d bat left or right-handed if he had to face up,” Stokes said. “It was unbelievable — he was in a lot of discomfort running between the wickets there, but we’ve had Rishabh [Pant] going out with a broken foot, [Shoaib] Bashir going out there bowling and batting and fielding with a broken finger, then we get Chris going out there today. That just goes to show how much energy and effort that’s been put into the series by both teams. Everyone’s left a lot out on the ground for their countries.”
Mohammed Siraj was named player of the match after taking five second-innings wickets, including the winning one by cleaning up Gus Atkinson with a yorker, and Shubman Gill, the India skipper, said: “Captaincy seems easy when you have got bowlers bowling a spell like Siraj. Both teams came with their A game, and I am very happy to get over the line in this one.”