Chris Woakes To Skip Shoulder Surgery To Be Fit For Ashes: 'Willing To Take Risk'

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-09 06:41:17 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-13 06:13:07

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England all-rounder Chris Woakes has decided to rehabilitation his shoulder injury without undergoing surgery to ensure he is fit for the Ashes. The 31-year-old seamer and batter has been managing the injury for months and was unable to finish England's Test series against India at Edgbaston due to the worsening problem. But rather than undergo surgery, which would sideline him for months, Woakes is optimistic he can get through rehabilitation and be available for the Ashes, which starts in June.

"I am willing to take the risk of not having the surgery at this moment in time, with three-and-a-half months until the Ashes," Woakes said. "It's a risk, but one that I'm willing to take to be fit for the best series of the year. "If things get worse or don't improve like we hope, then surgery is still an option, but I'm hopeful that won't be the case."

England's two-Test series at home against West Indies in June could be the last chance for players to impress ahead of the Ashes, with the touring squad for Australia likely to be announced not long after. A fully fit Woakes would be a likely candidate to make the trip, offering England a balanced attack with his swing bowling and valuable middle-order runs.

It remains to be seen if Woakes will be fit enough to take his place among what is shaping as a likely 30-man touring party for the Ashes. But if he is passed fit, he could be a vital cog in England's bid to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time since 2010-11.

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