Chris Woakes’ latest wicket for England was the 600th First Class scalp of his career – and one of the best he’s ever bowled, according to Warwickshire’s ‘Wizard’.
Abdullah Shafique b Woakes 0.
Woakes’ delivery on October 10 at Multan Cricket Stadium – the first ball of Pakistan’s second innings in that record breaking Test – was considered almost unplayable.
A CricViz analyst calculated: “The delivery to dismiss Shafique swung 2.31 degrees away before deviating 1.58 degrees in. The Expected Batting Average for that delivery was just 2.8.”
Speaking from the England hotel base ahead of the third Test in Islamabad on Thursday, Bears allrounder Woakes agreed it was a “one in a thousand” delivery.
He said: “You might only bowl that once in a 1,000 really. Every time you’re trying to nail your best ball, unless you’re looking at a variation, but it’s rare to pull it off exactly.
“Maybe it was a little bit fuller than you want to hit, but it moved off the wicket, off the crack, and it makes it look a magic ball doesn’t it!
“But there are many good balls that you don’t get wickets with, so it’s nice to get one like that – and as it’s my 600th it’s extra special.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to 600. I remember when I got my opening First Class wicket. I never thought I ‘d reach 600! I look back across a long career and think how much hard work you have to put in to achieve that.
“The overs you have to put in during matches and in practice to hone your craft so to speak. I don’t mind giving myself a little pat on the back for it.”
The 35-year-old made his England debut in January 2011. He’s now taken 379 wickets for his country across all formats, including 175 in 55 Tests.
That debut came on a tour Down Under. He’s been on countless overseas trips since…so does he still enjoy touring?
“When I first toured with England I was 21,” he added. “I was at a very different stage of my life, before I was married or had children. Touring was a bit easier, I only had myself to think about with no responsibilities back home.
“The older you get, and especially when you have children, you tend to miss home a hell of a lot more as you’re away for long periods. But at the same time I still have a great love for it. I still love doing what I do and enjoy the challenge of playing in different conditions.
“And representing England is still right up my priority list even at this stage of my career. You never take any England cap for granted.
“Even now at the age of 35 I still feel like I’m learning. Still learning new ways to take wickets, to work batsman over. And still putting in the hard yards to stay fit and stay on the park which is half the battle as a fast bowler.
“Making sure you are in the best condition possible to be able to tolerate bowling in whatever conditions, be it in England or Pakistan, bowling 25 overs and to be as good in your 25th as you are in the first.
“I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to do that for Warwickshire, for England.”
England have a big summer of Test cricket on home soil next year with Zimbabwe and India taking on Brendon McCullum’s side.
Naturally, Woakes wants to be involved – but is still keen to pull on a Bears shirt as often as possible in 2025.
“I’d love to be part of the Tests next summer, if selected,” he added. “But if not I’ll be around a lot more for Warwickshire. There will certainly be parts of the season where I’m around and playing in a Warwickshire shirt.
“Whenever that is, I’ll be doing my best to win for the Bears. I love pulling on the shirt, to wear the Bear and Ragged Staff. I always have, always will. Hopefully there will be a few games next year where I can play my part.”
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