Looking back on Woakes’ England career

This autumn, The Wizard announced that he'd cast his final spell. Chris Woakes will no longer be pulling on the shirt with the three lions emblazoned proudly on his chest, but the career which he has lived and the body of work he managed to bring together over the years in which he represented England will live long in the memory of the generations of cricket supporters who were treated to his talent.

Woakes, who suffered a shoulder injury this summer against India, which placed his participation in The Ashes tour of Australia this winter in doubt, recently confirmed that he’d be hanging up his international boots after almost 15 years spent playing Test, ODI and T20I cricket – and proving his worth time and again across that extensive period.

Woakes’ name will be one associated with a triumphant era in English cricket’s rich history; few cricketers will be able to point to winners’ medals for two World Cup victories in differing formats, as well as contributing to an Ashes success, by the time their international playing days conclude.

In 2019, Woakes played a leading hand in England’s ODI World Cup glory on home soil; the seamer was thrown the new ball throughout the tournament alongside Jofra Archer and claimed 16 wickets, returning figures of 3/20 from his eight overs at his beloved Edgbaston, which earned him the player of the match award as England overcame Australia in the semi-final.

In 2022, Woakes was selected for England’s T20 World Cup campaign Down Under and played throughout the competition as they emerged victorious against Pakistan in the final, helping his country to earn a second white-ball title in the space of just three years.

Only two years ago, having secured those limited overs medals, Woakes was named as England’s player of the series and earned himself the coveted Compton–Miller Medal for his performances in the 2023 Ashes, most notably in victory over Australia at Headingley and at the Kia Oval – that’s despite the fact that the Great Barr-born pace-man was only selected in the third, fourth and fifth Tests of the series.

Revered by his international teammates and coaches, and highly regarded by England supporters for the dedication, efforts and levels of skill he produced while representing his nation, Woakes’ commitment to the collective cause was perhaps best represented in his final act as an England player.

The dramatic defeat to India at the culmination of the compelling Test series this past summer, as the visitors levelled it at The Oval, wasn’t the fitting send-off Woakes, who would be playing in his final Test match, deserved. Yet the sight of the all-rounder – who had dislocated his shoulder when fielding in the previous innings – striding out to the middle with his arm cradled beneath his jumper to maintain England’s hopes of victory has become an iconic image, which rather summed up Woakes’ selflessness and reaffirmed his reputation as the ultimate team player.

Woakes brings his international career to a close having boasted a bowling average of under 30 across 217 matches, spanning three formats and 15 years; in Test matches in England, the fast bowler remarkably averaged a smidgen above 22 – indeed by that metric it makes Woakes the most successful England bowler, to have taken at least 50 wickets, on home soil since the Second World War.

What also set him apart from his compatriots who aspired to represent their country while plying their trade in county cricket was his ability with the bat. Woakes undoubtedly established himself as a bowling all-rounder while playing for England and averaged above 25, having routinely batted at eight.

His day in the sun with bat in hand came against India at Lord’s, in the summer of 2018. Woakes’ unbeaten 137, his one Test century, as part of a sixth-wicket stand worth almost 200 runs along with Jonny Bairstow – married with Woakes’ match haul of four wickets – helped England to an innings victory over their visitors.

Now, as has been confirmed by the club this week, Woakes’ attentions will turn back to playing solely for the Bears in the coming couple of seasons, having agreed a new contract, and with it he’ll bring an enormous amount of experience and skill to a side who’ll benefit from his quality as a player and personality.

While England won’t have the dependable, versatile and dressing room favourite Woakes to call on when they head to Australia for The Ashes this winter, the man himself can reflect on an international career packed with achievements and contributions which would be the envy of many of his counterparts and ought to have the man himself brimming with pride.