England bowler Chris Woakes is racing against time to return to training for the Ashes later this year, with the first Test in Perth on November 21. The 36-year-old suffered the dislocation in the fifth Test against India at The Oval and is weighing up an eight-week rehabilitation programme over going under the knife. Woakes hurt himself while trying to save a boundary on the first day of the final Test against India. The injury kept him from bowling for the rest of the match and batting in the first innings. Though in pain, he made a courageous comeback in the second innings, batting at number 11 with his left arm strapped in a sling, attempting to assist the home team in chasing the target. England was finally defeated by six runs, and the series concluded 2-2. The pacer said he is waiting for scan results to determine the severity of the damage. Here is what Woakes told BBC Sport: "I'm waiting to see what the extent of the damage is, but I think the options will be to have surgery or to go down a rehab route and try and get it as strong as possible," Also Read | Brand Value of Indian Cricketers in 2025 Why is Woakes opting for rehab instead of surgery? Surgery, however, according to medical guidance Woakes has been given, would keep him out for three to four months, a window of recovery that would coincide with the beginning of the Ashes. Alternatively, an intensive rehabilitation programme would have him available again in around eight weeks' time, his chances of playing the series opener enhanced. He added, "I suppose naturally with that there will be a chance of a reoccurrence, but I suppose that could be a risk that you're just willing to take sort of thing. From what I've heard from physios and specialists is that the rehab of a surgery option would be closer to four months or three to four months. That's obviously touching on the Ashes and Australia so it makes it tricky. From a rehab point of view you can probably get it strong again within eight weeks. So that could be an option, but again obviously still waiting to get the full report on it." The decision of the veteran to bat even in the injured condition was widely appreciated by fans and experts alike. Interestingly, he scored four runs during a last-wicket stand with Gus Atkinson, although he did not receive a delivery. For Woakes, though, it was all part of work. He concluded, "In my eyes it [to go out to bat] was never a question. It was just a matter of 'I was always going to do that' and I believed anyone else in that dressing room would have done the same. So it's not like it was just me making that decision. But yeah, I suppose it's quite surprising how much people have sent the love, sent the support and said how brave it was. But as I said, in my eyes it was just business as usual. When you get the opportunity, you do what's best for your team. In that moment it was to go out there and try and find a way with Gus at the other end to try and get us over the line. Unfortunately, it didn't happen but I'm grateful and thankful that I put up the fight and tried to do it for the team."