Chris Woakes has developed into an indispensable player for the England national cricket team. His sensational efforts in three Test wins away from home during the recent winter tour have stamped his authority for selection. What’s different about his presence in the squad as opposed to earlier in his career? In those days, too, he often fought for one of Australia’s two or three pace-bowling spots with fabled fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. At the age of 36, Chris Woakes is currently the most veteran player in the entire England setup. He has a wealth of experience and valuable perspective to add to the team.
As it transpired, he won all three Tests on his recent winter series, of which he cheated, Lord’s and many possible first wintering over. In even sharper relief, the squad was sunk in the three games he missed. This remarkable statistic further emphasises Woakes’ value to the squad as they face still the toughest test of all the challenges of international cricket.
Woakes has consistently put in top-class displays since returning to the England fold. He has picked up 51 wickets already, at an average of 21.88. It’s no coincidence that his contributions have led England to 10 victories in the last 12 Tests he’s featured in. He has an outstanding overall record of 1,970 runs and 181 wickets in Test cricket. He is now bearing down on only the sixth Englishman to achieve the remarkable double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets. If he is successful, Woakes will achieve this landmark, second-fastest in terms of matches played, behind Ian Botham.
“I don’t see myself as one of the greats. You know what you are. I don’t put myself in the bracket of Broady and Jimmy, or Glenn McGrath or Curtly Ambrose,” he stated, reflecting on his career and the legends of cricket with whom he shares a field.
Woakes’ journey hasn’t come without its hurdles either. After surgery, he wondered if he’d played his last game in cricket’s biggest format. “I was just worried my red-ball stuff was done and if I could get back to the level that was needed to play Test cricket,” he recounted. Fortunately for them, Ozzie has come back into form and match fitness, proving to be an invaluable piece to their playoff run.
The dynamics of the England team have shifted under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, embracing a more aggressive style of play. Woakes is well-positioned to compare this era with previous ones, having experienced various phases of English cricket throughout his career. “What Brendon and Stokesy want is for guys to remember their time playing for England as the best days of their life,” he emphasized, indicating a focus on enjoyment alongside performance.
Woakes’ status as one of the most genial characters in cricket remains popular in the dressing room. He ties us to every previous generation of players. He was a senior member of an England dressing room that boasted the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann. This connection to English cricket history gives Mayer an important perspective on the current sad state of English cricket.
As the team finds its way through triumph and disappointment, Woakes recognizes the stresses that accompany playing for one’s country. “When a team is winning without you, your first thought is how hard it will be to get back in,” he noted, reflecting on the competitive nature of securing a place in the squad.
Woakes understands that sport is often made or broken in significant moments that can change careers and paths. “There are sliding doors moments in sport, even more so in Test cricket,” he remarked, highlighting how critical decisions and performances can shape an athlete’s path.
Woakes has thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of his labours on home soil. He can’t do it overseas, with a bowling average of almost 49 versus well under 22 at home. This gap highlights the challenge of transitioning to different climates and styles of play faced on international tours.
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