Chris Woakes diagnosed with 'tiny crack' in thumb

England pacer Chris Woakes has been diagnosed with a small crack in his right thumb sustained while batting in the second innings on Day Four of the third Test against India in Mohali which the visitors lost by eight wickets.

In the second session on the fourth day, Mohammed Shami bowled two back-to-back bouncers at Woakes in the 84th over.

The first bouncer got Woakes' helmet's neck guard coming off but the batsman came out unhurt. The England all-rounder was stuck on the thumb as he tried to fend off another fine short ball the very next ball. The sharp bouncer came out as a shock to Woakes who lobbed it off the handle of the bat for an easy catch for wicket keeper Parthiv Patel.

The 27-year-old went for an X-ray after the game which showed what the England management are describing as a "tiny crack", reports ESPNcricinfo.

This injury would only add woes to the Alastair Cook-led team, which is already lagging the five-match series by 0-2.

Yesterday, the England captain had confirmed that Haseeb Hameed, the 19-year-old batsman, would miss the remaining two matches as he needs to return home to have surgery on his injured hand.

Hameed was due to have an x-ray after the third Test finished, but instead it was done on Day Three with the results sent back to the UK for assessment.

Hameed had taken blows during the first two Tests in Rajkot and Visakhapatnam and was also struck on the hand when dismissed in the first innings in Mohali.

The two teams will now lock horns in the fourth Test to be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from December 8.