Chris Woakes’ omission from England’s Test squad
The England Cricket Board (ECB) revealed a 16-man squad for the five Tests against India, featuring three uncapped players and notable spin options. However, Woakes, despite his impactful performance in the recent Ashes series against Australia, did not secure a place in the squad.
Woakes’ recent Ashes 2023 performance
In the Ashes series just four months ago against Australia, Woakes played a pivotal role, contributing significantly to England’s comeback, ultimately drawing the series 2-2. His noteworthy performance earned him the player-of-the-series award, finishing with 19 wickets in three Tests.
Woakes responds to snub from England’s roster
Reacting to his omission, Woakes accepted the decision, deeming it fair. He emphasized the need to prioritize the health of his knee, especially considering his age, and expressed his reluctance to risk it for Test matches. The Birmingham-born cricketer also highlighted his focus on white-ball cricket and acknowledged the challenges of putting in efforts on traditionally unresponsive Indian pitches. He shared his perspective that, given his past record on Indian soil, persisting with attempts might not yield desired results.
“At my age, with my away record – particularly in the subcontinent – I feel like it’s a fair decision. I feel at ease with the decision, if that makes sense. The communication was good, I know where I stand so it’s fine by me. I wouldn’t want that to be the same case going to India, bowling on tracks which are unresponsive to my type of bowling; slamming the front knee down at 34 is not really ideal when I want to play a lot of white-ball cricket moving forward,” Woakes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
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Challenges on Indian soil and future focus
The 34-year-old seamer, known for his skills in swinging conditions, has faced difficulties in replicating his success in India, managing only three wickets in three games at an average of 81.33. With the first Test scheduled for January 25, 2024, in Hyderabad, Woakes will turn his attention to other formats while accepting the selectors’ decision for the Test series against India.
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