Woakes aims for a spot on the winter tours of England

After taking over as attack captain after James Anderson retired, Chris Woakes is aiming for a spot on England's winter tours. The 35-year-old hasn't participated in an away Test in over two years, and his 51.88 bowling average when bowling overseas isn't quite as good as his 21.57 average when bowling at home. Woakes might be less useful on the three-match tour of Pakistan in October, but he would seem a perfect fit for the conditions for the three Tests in New Zealand in December. "If selected to play for England, I will represent my country." I wouldn't rule myself out, for sure," he remarked. "The selectors will have their agendas, but if I get picked, I won't decline a tour." 

The final away game that Woakes played in the Caribbean with Joe Root's captaincy ended in 2022. Since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took over, he has not been included on the tours of Pakistan, New Zealand, or India. Woakes has taken over as England's senior seamer in place of Anderson and Stuart Broad, who both retired last year. His 14 wickets in four matches this summer now stand thanks to his three wickets on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The Warwickshire player stated, "You pick up new skills and have more experience to fall back on the more Test cricket you play." 

With an eye on the 2025–26 Ashes tour of Australia, England essentially brought 42-year-old Anderson, their all-time leading wicket-taker, to an end. That has raised some concerns about their allegiance to Woakes, a bowler with a similar style who is seven years Anderson's junior and scarcely young for a paceman. Woakes has a strong suit in the batting department, with a Test average of over 28. A true number eight who has been pushed up to seven in the absence of injured captain Stokes, he is by far the finest batter among England's bowlers. Woakes remarked, "That is a bonus, isn't it?" "It's an extra string in the bow that might help me get chosen before someone else who might not be able to fully fill that role."