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3w ago

Stokes Rejects Broader Injury Replacements After Woakes Bats with Arm in Sling

He warned that expanding concussion-only substitutions to other injuries would invite tactical loopholes that could undermine team balance.

Chris Woakes of England walks off the field at the end of the match after batting with his arm in a sling on day five.
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The skipper consoles Woakes, who went out to bat and managed to run, grimacing, with his arm in a sling as England battled in vain at the Oval
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Overview

  • England captain Ben Stokes told reporters on Monday that non-concussion injury substitutes are out of the question, dismissing the idea with “tough s***” when players are hurt.
  • Chris Woakes appeared at No. 11 on day five of the fifth Test at The Oval with his left arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder diving for a boundary.
  • The ICC’s 2019 rule allowing replacements only for concussion remains in force despite growing calls from former players and coaches to include fractures and soft-tissue injuries.
  • Veterans like Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Vaughan have urged the ICC to establish an independent panel to assess broader injury protocols amid concerns over the five-Test schedule’s toll on players.
  • Stokes and other traditionalists argue that permitting wider injury subs would open tactical loopholes for teams to reshuffle lineups mid-match and erode Test cricket’s selection integrity.