Cricket

Chris Woakes, once known for his humble-brag about his impressive home record, now finds himself leading England's bowling attack in Pakistan. Despite his previous struggles overseas, Woakes has been recalled due to injuries and retirements.Woakes' selection is based on his strong performance in England's home summer and the belief that he has become a more complete bowler. His ability to open the bowling and bat at No. 7 provides balance to the team.England's coach, Brendon McCullum, believes Woakes can replicate James Anderson's control, which was crucial to England's success in Pakistan two years ago. Woakes' experience and leadership qualities also make him a valuable asset.Ollie Pope, who will captain in Ben Stokes' absence, expects Woakes to use his reverse swing and movement off the pitch to challenge Pakistan's batters. The conditions in Multan are expected to be different from England's previous tour, with higher temperatures and a grass-covered pitch.Woakes acknowledges that his overseas record is not flattering, but he is determined to prove his worth. If he succeeds, this tour could mark a late-career resurgence and lead to a place in next winter's Ashes squad.

Ben Stokes' absence from England's first Test against Pakistan in Multan has opened the door for Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse to make their mark. Woakes, who hasn't played an overseas Test in two-and-a-half years, is expected to return to the side, while Carse is in line for a Test debut.Stokes, who sustained a torn hamstring two months ago, is still recovering and has ruled himself out of the first Test. He underwent a 45-minute training session on Saturday, including shuttle runs and batting practice, but is taking a cautious approach to his recovery.In Stokes' absence, Ollie Pope will continue to captain England, having led them to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last month. England are likely to field two spinners in the first Test, with Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir expected to play. Gus Atkinson is also in contention after recovering from a thigh niggle.Carse is set to pip Matthew Potts to the final spot in England's seam attack. Both bowlers impressed in the recent ODI series against Australia, but England have opted for Carse's extra pace and superior batting. Olly Stone, who played two Tests against Sri Lanka, is also likely to miss out.Carse, who missed most of the summer due to a gambling ban, has impressed England's players in the nets with his pace and wicket-taking ability. "He's a natural wicket-taker," said Joe Root. "He's got those balls in him that, out of nowhere, on the flattest of wickets, you can make something happen… He offers a huge amount to the squad."England are expected to confirm their XI later on Saturday, two days out from the first Test.

England's Woakes Bowls Off-Spin Due to Bad Light in Third Test Against Sri LankaIn an unusual turn of events, England pacer Chris Woakes was forced to bowl off-spin during the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval due to poor light conditions.With skies darkening and light fading rapidly in London on Saturday, Woakes was seen bowling off-spin against the Lankan batters. The incident occurred in the 7th over of Sri Lanka's first innings when the on-field umpires informed skipper Ollie Pope that the light was insufficient for fast bowlers to operate.Woakes, who had just dismissed Pathum Nissanka on the second ball of his fourth over, had four more deliveries to bowl when the umpires intervened. This forced him to complete his remaining balls by bowling off-spin, much to the amusement of England bowling coach Jeetan Patel and the players on the field.With a couple of slips, a leg slip, and a short-leg in place, Woakes bowled three off-spinning deliveries, one of which was dispatched to the boundary. He then completed the over with an arm ball.Earlier, bad light had also forced early stumps on the opening day of the Test. Riding on Pope's 154, England scored 325 before being bowled out in the 70th over. Already 2-0 up in the series, England are aiming for a whitewash against Sri Lanka.

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."

England's preparations for the upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka have been thrown into disarray following the withdrawal of all-rounder Chris Woakes from The Hundred tournament due to injury. The news comes just days after captain Ben Stokes was assisted off the field during a Hundred match with a suspected hamstring injury.Woakes, 35, was a key member of England's Test squad and was expected to play a significant role in the series against Sri Lanka. However, his withdrawal from The Hundred has raised concerns about his fitness ahead of the first Test, which begins on August 21 at Old Trafford."Chris Woakes has withdrawn from the competition with injury. The England bowling all-rounder will no longer be a part of this year's competition," Birmingham Phoenix announced on their Instagram account late Monday.The injury to Woakes is a major blow to England, who are already without Stokes. The Test skipper sustained a suspected hamstring injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. If both all-rounders are ruled out of the Sri Lanka series, England's squad depth will be severely tested.England's preparations for the series are now under scrutiny as they await further assessments on the fitness of Woakes and Stokes. The team management will be hoping that both players can recover in time for the first Test, but their absence would be a significant setback.

Kane Williamson and Chris Woakes, two renowned international cricketers, have signed with Durban's Super Giants as direct signings for the upcoming SA20 2025 season. This marks the first SA20 appearance for both players.Williamson, the former New Zealand captain, recently declined a central contract and relinquished his captaincy to prioritize playing in the SA20. He emphasized his commitment to New Zealand outside of his South African stint. "SA20 looks really exciting," Williamson said. "My priority still is, absolutely, playing for New Zealand."Woakes, a key white-ball player for England, has been instrumental in their ODI and T20I World Cup successes. Despite not being selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup, he remains a valuable asset to any team.The SA20 tournament will run from January 9 to February 8, with July 21 as the deadline for retentions and August 31 for direct signings. Last season, Durban's Super Giants finished as runners-up, losing to Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final.Other notable England players joining the SA20 include Joe Root, who signed with Paarl Royals, and Ben Stokes, who received a substantial contract offer from MI Cape Town.The addition of Williamson and Woakes to the Super Giants roster is a significant boost to their title aspirations. Their experience and skill will be invaluable in the competitive SA20 environment.

Chris Woakes, now 35 years old, has emerged as the senior figure in England's bowling attack following the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. As he prepares for his 50th Test at Trent Bridge, Woakes reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learned from the legendary duo.Woakes acknowledges the impact Anderson has had on his career, particularly in terms of assessing conditions and pitch behavior. He credits Anderson with teaching him the art of bowling the "wobble-ball." As the most experienced bowler in the team, Woakes recognizes the need to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation of seamers.While his on-field demeanor will remain largely unchanged, Woakes acknowledges that he may need to adjust his role slightly, especially if he is given the new ball. He emphasizes the importance of giving 100% and fulfilling his role to the best of his ability.Off the field, Anderson's presence as a bowling mentor will provide continuity and support. Woakes believes that Anderson's experience and insights will be invaluable to the team.Despite his impressive home record, Woakes is realistic about his chances of being part of England's long-term plans, particularly for overseas tours. He remains focused on the present and is determined to make the most of every opportunity he gets.Woakes' return to the England set-up has been bittersweet, following the loss of his father and his omission from the T20 World Cup squad. However, he is grateful for the opportunity to represent his country and is determined to enjoy every moment.

England all-rounder Chris Woakes has revealed that his recent absence from cricket was due to the tragic loss of his father. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Woakes shared that he had spent the past few weeks with his family, grieving and trying to cope with the immense loss.Woakes, who has been a key member of England's World Cup-winning teams in both T20 and one-day internationals, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received during this difficult time. He emphasized that he will return to the sport when he and his family feel ready.The 35-year-old has played 48 Tests, 122 ODIs, and 33 T20Is for England, taking 353 international wickets. His absence from the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) and England's squad for the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies has been a significant blow to both his team and the sport.Woakes's decision to prioritize his family during this time has been met with widespread support from the cricket community. Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Woakes for putting his family first, saying, "It's a reminder that there are more important things in life than cricket."The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also expressed its support for Woakes, stating that they will give him all the time he needs to grieve and recover. ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said, "We fully understand and support Chris's decision to take time away from cricket. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time."Woakes's return to cricket will be a welcome boost for England, who are preparing for a busy summer of international fixtures. The team will face New Zealand in a three-match Test series in June, followed by a limited-overs series against India in July.