England lost their final Test match against India to draw the series 2-2 despite the efforts of an injured Chris Woakes – who came out to bat with one arm in a sling.
India secured victory after just 57 minutes of play on the final day of the fifth test at The Oval in London on Monday.
England began the day on 339-6, chasing 374, while India needed just four wickets.
Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, fell quickly, leaving Gus Atkinson and the injured Woakes as England’s last hope.
Woakes had been absent from much of the fifth test after suffering a dislocated shoulder on day one.
But with no other options, he emerged as the 11th man with his injured arm in a sling and hidden under his jumper to huge applause from the crowd – and pats on the back from his rivals.
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England had 17 runs to go when he took his place, grimacing in pain as he kept his end for Atkinson to try and bat his side to victory.
However, India’s Mohammed Siraj bowled Atkinson out before he had to face a ball, with England six runs short of their target – wrapping up an astonishing series as a 2-2 draw.
“Every single run he took was in agony,” Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain said. “He didn’t end up facing a delivery. He will never ever let England down and he certainly didn’t today.”
‘Never a question in his mind’
The series has been fraught with drama, with the teams drawn 1-1 after the second Test and England going 2-1 up after the third.
A draw in the fourth match left England chasing a 3-1 win and India hoping to level the series with a 2-2 draw.
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Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket after the game, England captain Ben Stokes, who was out injured for the final test and deputised by Ollie Pope, said: “When the situation arose, there was never a question in Woakesy’s mind.
“He spent yesterday trying to figure out whether he’d bat left- or right-handed if he had to face up.
“We’ve had guys go out with broken feet and fingers and now we’ve had someone walk out with a dislocated shoulder. It shows what it means to play for your country and to fight to win games.
“It’s been a hard-fought series, and I’m sure Shubman Gill is just as proud of his players as I am of mine.”
