Side strain rules out Chris Woakes for remainder of the Champions Trophy

06/02/2017

English pacer Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy today after he suffered a side strain while playing against Bangladesh in the tournament opener yesterday. The English Cricket Board (ECB) announced that a replacement for the 28-year-old would be announced soon.

Woakes, who has been in inspired form this year claiming 17 wickets in just 8 matches at an astonishing average of 18.23, picked up the injury yesterday and was forced to go off the field after having bowled just two overs. While it was reported that he might come out to bat should England need him to, scans later revealed that the extent of his injury was worse than what was initially expected.

Woakes had picked up a niggle even before the tournament started and had to be rested for the last two ODIs against South Africa because of a tight quad. The latest injury is expected to keep him off the field for four to six weeks which has also put a big question mark on his inclusion for the Test series against South Africa starting on July 6.

The ECB, today, said that they would name a replacement for the bowler shortly and one among Steven Finn and Toby Roland-Jones is favourite to replace the pacer in the team.