Chris Woakes reflects on England’s 3-2 ODI win over New Zealand as “a great series to be part of” – though he admits his selection as England’s man-of-the-series came as a “bit of a shock.”
Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes was named man-of-the series after a string of impressive bowling displays which included opening spells in the five games of 5-0-14-2, 5-1-18-2, 5-1-13-1, 5-2-14-1 and 6-1-13-1.
The World Cup is still a little way off but these tournaments creep up on you so it is great to hit form and have that momentum. We are playing well and that’s not 11 guys, it’s about 16 or 17 in the squad.
Chris Woakes
His excellence with the new ball has triggered talk of him opening the bowling, at Stuart Broad’s expense, with the red ball when the Test series opens later this week.
But Woakes was just happy to be involved in a highly entertaining contest which concluded in England’s sixth successive ODI series victory.
“It was great to be named man-of-the-series – and a bit of a shock, to be honest, because us bowlers don’t often get a look-in!” he said.
“New Zealand are a quality side, especially in their own conditions, and it was a great series to be part of because there were some very good, tight games. It was really good 50-over cricket. People say that 50-over is getting more like T20 but there were a couple of low-scoring games which were just as exciting.
“Not many of us in the squad knew we had won six series on the bounce until it was pointed out to us. The great thing was we won a couple of games that were effectively knock-outs which is what we will have to do to win a tournament. The World Cup is still a little way off but these tournaments creep up on you so it is great to hit form and have that momentum. We are playing well and that’s not 11 guys, it’s about 16 or 17 in the squad.
“Now we’ve got to take that form into the Tests and I’m really looking forward to the series and, first up, the pink-ball Test which is a very exciting prospect.”
England will return to Test cricket needing to bounce back hard from the bruising Ashes defeat earlier this winter – a series from which, Woakes admits, there are lessons to be learned.
“We need to hit back after what happened in the Ashes,” he said. “That was a tough series. Steve Smith was in the form of his life and at times it just felt like we were bowling at the middle of his bat. But there were times in games when we got into good positions and just didn’t capitalise. Australia were ruthless and we weren’t and we have to learn from that.
“New Zealand will be another hard series because they have some high-class players. Ross Taylor has proved how good he still is, Kane Williamson’s quality speaks for itself and they’ve got a lot of good, experienced players. It should be a cracking series.”
