Woakes Regrets Close DRS Calls as India Seize Edgbaston Day 1; England Could Have Had India 30/3

Woakes Laments Close Calls as India Dominate Day 1 at Edgbaston

Chris Woakes expressed his frustration with several close DRS calls that went against England on the opening day of the Edgbaston Test against India. The seamer believed that the decisions could have drastically altered the course of the day, potentially leaving India reeling at 30/3.

Woakes picked up a couple of wickets for England on the opening day. © Getty

One such incident occurred in the 11th over when Woakes thought he had dismissed Karun Nair. A delivery that nipped back struck Nair's pad, and despite the impact being outside off-stump, Nair had not offered a shot. Woakes convinced captain Ben Stokes to review the decision, but the replay showed the ball only clipping the top of off-stump, leading to the on-field umpire's decision being upheld.

Woakes later stated that he felt in situations where a batter doesn't offer a shot, the benefit of the doubt should go to the bowler.

"I need to be careful: I've had some [decisions] go my way over the years," Woakes acknowledged. "In general, DRS has been good for the game. A lot more right decisions are given [than before]. The only thing I would like to come in is that if a batsman decides to leave the ball and it's still hitting the stumps, I think that should be out - regardless if it's clipping or not."

Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal also benefited from a close review. Woakes struck Jaiswal on the front pad, and was convinced the ball had pitched in line. Stokes reviewed, but replays showed the ball only brushing the top of leg-stump.

"We could have easily had them 30 for 3," Woakes lamented. "It was a pretty frustrating morning, really. Obviously emotions run high when you are desperate to do well for the team, do well for yourself and it would've been nice... had those decisions gone our way, the day looks completely different, but that is Test cricket and we move on."

Despite the overcast conditions, India capitalized, ending the day at 310/5, highlighted by Shubman Gill's century.

Woakes found success bowling wide of the crease, dismissing Nitish Reddy with a delivery that nipped back to hit the stumps after the all-rounder shouldered arms.

After a disappointing performance in Leeds, Woakes had a productive day at his home ground, finishing with 2-59 in 21 overs.

"It felt like the stumps were in play all day," Woakes said. "It didn't feel like a massive nick-off wicket, to be honest; it didn't feel like it had the pace in it for that... It was something which we were looking for. Basically, it was trying to find the right length that allowed you to be full enough not to get driven, but still bring the stumps into play."

Woakes also spoke about the significance of playing at his home venue: "Across a career, you don't get that many games at your home venue: this is my fourth Test match here. They are really special weeks. You have a lot of friends and family in the ground, and I've got a lot of love for Warwickshire which goes deep. It's all I've ever known... There's a lot of people behind the scenes who support you through the good times and the bad," he added.