Cricket Enthusiast Woakes Remains Committed to Test Cricket Abroad After Impressive Home Display
Chris Woakes, the seasoned English cricketer, showcased his prowess once again on home soil, collecting three wickets for 32 runs as England bowled out Sri Lanka for 236 on the opening day of the series at Old Trafford. Woakes wasted no time, taking two wickets with the new ball as Sri Lanka found themselves reeling at six for three, before adding Kamindu Mendis to his tally later in the day.
The 35-year-old has an impressive 14 Test wickets this summer, averaging a mere 19.07, building on an excellent home Ashes campaign last year when he was awarded the Compton-Miller medal for player of the series. However, Woakes’ international exploits have not been limited to home conditions, as he remains committed to representing England on their upcoming Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.
“I’ll play for England where I’m picked to play for England,” Woakes stated confidently. “That will be a discussion for further down the line, but I’m certainly not ruling myself out. Selectors will have their plans, but I’m certainly not going to turn down a tour if selected. We shall see.”
Despite his previous struggles overseas, where his 36 Test wickets have come at an average of 51.88, Woakes believes that his wealth of experience and newfound wisdom could be an asset as he aims to cement his place in the England squad for away tours.
“As you get older, the more Test cricket you play, you pick up new skills, have more experience to fall back on and [are] a little bit wiser. That might be a good thing as well that I haven’t [played an away Test] in a little while. It gives you a fresh look on things.”
Woakes was “really, really happy” with England’s performance on the opening day, despite a defiant partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva (74) and debutant Milan Rathnayake (72), which helped Sri Lanka recover from a precarious 113 for seven. The veteran all-rounder praised stand-in captain Ollie Pope, who “did a great job” in the absence of the injured Ben Stokes, and the team’s overall display, stating, “To bowl a team out on day one of a Test match and to be none down at the close is a superb day.”
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