Ashes hero Chris Waokes has been left out of the England Test squad for next year’s five-match series in India.
Just four months ago, Chris Woakes played a major role in helping England bounce back to draw a five-match Ashes series against Australia 2-2 at home. Woakes played in three of those Tests, finishing with 19 wickets to claim the player-of-the-series award.
Despite his heroics, the fast bowling allrounder was omitted from England’s 16-man squad for next year’s India Test tour, a decision that has left him with ‘mixed emotions’.
Woakes said, “It’s mixed emotions. Whenever there’s a Test squad announcement, you’re always desperate to be in it, but at the same time, at my age, with my away record—particularly in the subcontinent—I feel like it’s a fair decision.”
Woakes’ record when playing in overseas tests had a lot to do with the snub.
He further said, “We had conversations about where my best cricket is likely to be played moving forward, and naturally, in Test cricket, it looks likely to be at home.”
He further said, “Of course you want to perform in all conditions. It’s something that I’ve tried for a long period of time. There was a period where my away from actually got a bit better, but that was playing in New Zealand, South Africa, where generally seamers go a little bit better.”
Woakes also said, “In the white-ball game, my away record is almost probably better than my home record. So it’s not just purely those conditions, but with the red ball, I have found it a little bit difficult.”
