Having already claimed four wickets on the opening day, Woakes continued his relentless assault on Day 2, achieving his maiden five-wicket haul in the Ashes. His impeccable line and length unsettled the Australian batsmen, leading to a series of crucial breakthroughs.
Woakes began by dismissing the formidable David Warner, who seemed to be settling in with a promising 32 runs. Later, he returned to break another partnership by trapping Cameron Green in front of the wickets. Just four balls later, he struck again, finding the edge of Mitchell Marsh’s willow. The Woakes-Bairstow combination worked wonders once more, removing Alex Carey from the crease.
The talented seamer’s domination was not yet complete, as he went on to claim his fifth wicket, sending Josh Hazlewood back to the pavilion.
Throughout the innings, Woakes exhibited remarkable control, becoming the standout bowler for England in the first innings. He completed his spell with outstanding figures of five wickets for just 62 runs in 22.2 overs, including four maiden overs.
This impressive performance marks Woakes’ maiden five-wicket haul in the Ashes and the fifth fifer of his Test cricket career. Interestingly, all five of his five-wicket hauls have come in home Tests, showcasing his mastery in familiar conditions.
In the meantime, fans on Twitter lauded Woakes for his brilliance with the ball and termed him as ‘an underrated cricketer.’
Here are the reactions:
He is the most underrated test cricketer .
I will pick everytime woakes in the team keeping in view his batting abilities.
He is a wizard.
A gem of a cricketer
— SAJAD GULZAR LONE (@SajadGulzarlone) July 20, 2023
Chris Woakes picks his first fifer at the Ashes#ENGvAUS #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/6krU0h6Pu0
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 20, 2023
The most underrated Cricketer
Chris Woakespic.twitter.com/pBYHvpavQU
— H A M Z A| Madiha's Bdy
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