Chris Woakes, after his 20th season as a professional cricketer, has reflected on his extensive career, which includes 62 Tests for England and two World Cup victories. The all-rounder, who recently secured his third County Championship title with Warwickshire, discussed his experiences under various England coaches and captains.
Woakes recounted his final Test appearance last August at the Oval, where he batted at No 11 with a dislocated left arm to try and help England win a series against India. He described the moment as both amazing and sad, experiencing a standing ovation but also the pain of his injury and the feeling of leaving his team handicapped.
The cricketer also spoke about his departure from the England setup, stating he was hurt by England team director Rob Key's public announcement that Woakes was 'not in our plans, at all.' Woakes felt Key could have discussed the matter with him privately first, rather than with the press, calling the experience 'a bit cold' and 'shabby'. He noted that they have barely spoken since.
Woakes also touched upon the pressures of the Test captaincy, observing how it affected Joe Root, Sir Alastair Cook, and Ben Stokes, who retired unexpectedly from international cricket a few weeks after leading England to victory against New Zealand. He suggested the Ashes series, which was an "unmitigated disaster," was a significant factor in Stokes' decision.