ENG v IND 2025: Chris Woakes Sparks Debate Over DRS Rule

Chris Woakes Incident: What happened in the India Vs England 2nd Test Match 

On July 2, 2025, during the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Woakes was at the heart of two contentious DRS decisions that went against England. Bowling with precision, the 36-year-old Warwickshire seamer trapped India’s in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in front with a delivery that nipped back sharply. Originally, the decision was Not Out; however, Woakes convinced Stokes that he had it. But it came out that the ball only brushed the top of the leg-stump. Due to the DRS rule, the original decision by the umpire stood strong, which allowed Jaiswal to continue his batting.  

After a few minutes, Woakes struck again in the 11th over, targeting Karun Nair, who offered no shot to a ball that jagged back. Again, the appeal was turned down, and the DRS review showed another “umpire’s call” decision, with the ball marginally clipping the stumps, sparing Nair.

This is the moment that caught Woakes off guard. Frustrated by the double blow, Woakes lost his control on the stump mic, venting his emotions, reportedly saying, “This is a f***ing joke,” a rare lapse in his typically unflappable persona.

Woakes’ Call for DRS Law Change

Post the day's play, Woakes spoke to the media, urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the DRS rules, particularly for LBW decisions involving no shot offered. 

“When a batter doesn’t offer a shot, and the ball is shown to be hitting the stumps, even marginally, it feels unfair that the umpire’s call can override that,” Woakes said. 

“We could’ve easily had them 30 for 3. I’m not saying scrap the system, but maybe tweak it so that when no shot’s played, the technology takes precedence.”

The ICC’s Laws of Cricket, specifically Law 36 (Leg Before Wicket), state that a bowler must complete an over unless incapacitated or suspended, but the DRS protocol allows for “umpire’s call” to uphold on-field decisions when ball-tracking shows the ball marginally hitting the stumps. Woakes’ proposal would require the ICC to adjust this protocol, potentially prioritizing ball-tracking data over umpiring discretion in no-shot scenarios, a change that could alter how batters approach leaving deliveries.

England coach Brendon McCullum, known for his aggressive “Bazball” philosophy, backed Woakes, suggesting the team would raise the issue with the ICC. “Chris bowled beautifully, and it’s tough when you don’t get the rewards. We’ll have a look at how the rules can evolve,” McCullum said. 

However, on the opposing side India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour said, “The rules are the same for both teams. We’ve had our share of tough calls too.”

India, led by Shubman Gill, made three changes to their lineup for the second test at Edgbaston, bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy, among others, while England relied on Woakes’ experience in home conditions to lead their attack, especially with Jofra Archer absent and Ben Stokes managing his recovery from a hamstring injury. 

On Day 1, India’s batting was steadied by Gill’s unbeaten century, but Woakes’ probing spells kept England in the game. His frustration on Day 2 stemmed from the belief that dismissing Jaiswal and Nair early could have shifted the momentum decisively. India ended the day in a strong position, with Gill 168* and Washington Sundar 1* on strike.