Chris Woakes, England’s experienced all-rounder, believes he can lead the team’s bowling attack on their upcoming tours to Pakistan and New Zealand this winter. Despite his modest overseas Test record, Woakes is confident in his abilities and is eager to contribute to England’s success.
Woakes has a bowling average of 51.88 in 20 away Tests, compared to 21.88 in 32 at home. However, he insists that he will not shy away from touring this winter and beyond. He last featured in an overseas Test in Grenada in March 2022.
This summer, Woakes has taken 14 wickets at 19.07, including 3 for 32 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford. At 35, he has led England’s attack since James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired earlier this summer.
“As you get older, you pick up new skills and have more experience to fall back on,” Woakes said. “I haven’t played an away Test for a while, but that might be a good thing. It gives you a fresh look on things.”
Woakes was not involved in England’s only Test tour of the 2023-24 winter, instead playing for Sharjah Warriors at the ILT20. However, he has since insisted that he remains available for selection.
“I certainly wouldn’t shy away from it,” Woakes said. “I’ll play for England where I’m picked to play. I’m certainly not ruling myself out.”
England will play six overseas Tests this winter, three each against Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December. Coach Brendon McCullum has said that it would be “hard to rub him out right now” from selection overseas, as he is perhaps England’s only seamer capable of contributing regularly with the bat from No. 8.
Woakes will bat one spot higher than that in this series, promoted to No. 7 in Ben Stokes’ absence. “I’ve worked hard on my batting in my whole career,” he said. “It’s an extra string in the bow which allows you to potentially be selected ahead of someone else.”
Having spent most of his Test career as a change bowler behind Anderson and Broad, Woakes has thrived with the new ball this summer. “It’s just a role which I’m taking on this summer as the opening bowler and the oldest to try and give options and communicate with the other bowlers as much as I can.”
Woakes struck twice in his fourth over on Wednesday, having Nishan Madushka caught at first slip and setting Angelo Mathews up to pin him lbw playing no shot. “It was a big wicket for myself, and it’s always nice when you’ve moved a few away and then you get one to come back like that,” Woakes said.
In the afternoon session, Woakes had Kamindu Mendis caught behind to leave Sri Lanka 92 for 6. “We’re really happy,” he said. “To bowl a team out on day one of a Test match and to be none down at the close is a superb day.”
