All-rounder Chris Woakes is still processing the shock after England fell agonisingly short of a "fairytale" series victory despite his remarkable act of bravery in the fifth and final Test against India.

Former India coach Greg Chappell hailed India’s young squad under Shubman Gill for proving their mettle during a transitional phase, saying they have shown they are more than capable of stepping into the shoes of their decorated predecessors.

If Test cricket is the sporting equivalent of a literary epic, the five-match Test series between England and India was its Iliad -- a battle of two groups of warriors which will go down in history as a tale of valour, heroism and sheer audacity.

He finished the five-match series in England with a chart-topping 23 wickets, the highest for any bowler.

When it comes to doing the impossible, millions around the globe, especially avid sports fans, turn to inspiration from one man who probably did it more than anyone in the sports fraternity -- Cristiano Ronaldo.

Chris Woakes is prepared to bat through a shoulder injury if England need him to seal a series win over India, according to former captain Joe Root.

England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day of the final test at The Oval on Sunday.

Mohammed Siraj struck again for India before England's Harry Brook counter-attacked in style as a dramatic fifth and deciding Test at the Oval remained in the balance on Sunday.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has backed India to ruin England's quest for a record run-chase at the Oval as the tourists eye the win that would spare them a series defeat.

Yashasvi Jaiswal made a sparkling hundred and Washington Sundar a blistering fifty before Mohammed Siraj struck with the last ball of Saturday's play to bolster India's hopes of a series-levelling win in the fifth and deciding Test against England at the Oval.

England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett shared a blistering stand in the fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval on Friday before Akash Deep sparked the latest flare-up in a controversial series.

Gus Atkinson took a five-wicket haul on his England return as India collapsed to 224 all out in the fifth and deciding Test on Friday despite the hosts being without the injured Chris Woakes.

India star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on Thursday as stand-in England captain Ollie Pope won the toss and elected to field.

England and India head to The Oval today for the fifth and decisive Test of a tightly contested series.

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon reflected on India not opting for an early draw to the Manchester Test.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir got involved in a heated exchange with The Oval curator on Tuesday.

India's enthralling series in England is going all the way to the finish after the resilient tourists drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Record-breaking India captain Shubman Gill again led from the front with a marathon century before Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja made unbeaten fifties as the tourists continued to frustrate England's bid for a series-clinching victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday.

England face a nervous wait to discover if Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl when they go in search of a series-clinching win over India in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Joe Root has insisted helping England win games rather than surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer remains his primary motivation after moving into second place in the standings.