This week, England and Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes announced his retirement from international cricket, calling time on an illustrious career which began with his white-ball debut in 2011. The announcement came after a conversation with Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, who made it clear that the 36-year-old would not be part of England’s plans heading into an away Ashes this winter.
Woakes admitted that the road to recovery after the freak injury sustained to his shoulder in the final test against India in August would have most likely seen him sit out at least the first three tests in any case.
Despite believing that his experience could still have been a handy weapon down under, Woakes insisted he had “no regrets” about his England career, a statement with which it is difficult to argue given the litany of successes attributed to him, including two World Cup winners’ medals in 2019 and 2022 and an Ashes triumph in 2013. Woakes also leaves the international game with impressive numbers: 3,705 runs and 396 wickets across all formats. The ‘Wizard’ is also one of only 11 players to appear on the honours boards at Lord’s for both his batting and bowling efforts: a stunning 137* against India in 2018 and career best figures of 6/17 against Ireland a year later.
He also played a pivotal role in clawing back momentum for England in the most recent Ashes in 2023. Introduced to the team in the 3rd test, he bowled immaculately to take 19 wickets at an average of 18.14, hit the winning runs at Headingley to keep the series alive and was awarded the Compton-Miller Medal as player of the series.
Despite his contributions, Woakes is a player who has often gone under the radar – an opening bowler in the age of England’s greatest ever opening pair – James Anderson and Stuart Broad (a little-known fact is that Woakes’ bowling average at home is superior to theirs) – and a talented all-rounder in the age of the imperious Ben Stokes.
However, his retirement gives England supporters the opportunity to salute a player who gave everything he had for them and his teammates. This was, of course, encapsulated by one last epic display of bravery and commitment, striding out to bat against India in agonising pain due to that dislocated shoulder.
Equally important to his legendary status within English cricket was his humility, with pundits and teammates alike paying tribute to his refreshingly down-to-earth character. Mark Wood stated on Instagram that “everyone deserves to know what a brilliant bloke and player you were to play alongside” with ECB chair Richard Thompson calling him “a gentleman off the field with the skills and fierce determination to win on it.” (Sky Sports)
The next exciting chapter for Woakes will see him continue to play county and franchise cricket, but his assets will be sorely missed by England. Nonetheless, he has left an indelible mark on English cricket with a career which, in his own words, he can “look back on with the greatest pride.”
Image credits: “Chris Woakes 2022” by Storm machine is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.