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England head coach Brendon McCullum has emphasized that Chris Woakes continues to be a prominent contender for inclusion in upcoming overseas tours. Woakes, who boasts 51 Test appearances for England, has notably displayed varying levels of performance when competing outside of his home country.
In his 31 Tests on home soil, the 35-year-old fast bowler has maintained a commendable bowling average of 21.83. However, this figure escalates significantly to 51.95 across 20 matches played abroad. Despite this disparity, Woakes delivered a standout performance during the recent three-match Test series against the West Indies on English grounds.
Brendon McCullum supports Chris Woakes for overseas tours despite performance concerns.
In the third Test at Edgbaston, Woakes showcased his prowess by claiming four wickets, rounding off the three-match series against the West Indies with a total of 11 wickets. His contributions played a pivotal role in England’s emphatic 3-0 victory.
With the retirement of James Anderson, questions have arisen regarding Woakes’ position in England’s Test squad, particularly with an eye on reclaiming the Ashes in Australia later this year.
However, McCullum has dismissed any uncertainties surrounding Woakes, brushing aside concerns about his overseas Test record potentially affecting his selection for future tours with a light-hearted laugh.
Woakes’ most recent overseas Test outing dates back to March 2022 during England’s tour of the West Indies, predating the appointments of Ben Stokes and McCullum as captain and head coach, respectively.
In remarks to BBC Sport, Brendon McCullum responded to queries about Chris Woakes’ potential inclusion in overseas Tests, stating:“Yeah, why not? The way he bowled on these flat surfaces [in the West Indies series], reversing the ball, he was able to prise out some wickets.”
Brendon McCullum praises Chris Woakes as a remarkable cricketer.
The England head coach added, “He’s a remarkable cricketer who probably hasn’t played as much as he could have in international cricket, but every time he has, he’s done really well. Whether that means he plays overseas, let’s wait and see, but it’s hard to rub him out right now. He’s done incredibly well, and I’m delighted for him.”
Another aspect England must consider regarding Woakes is his prowess with the bat. He proved his worth by scoring 134 runs from the number eight position, notably contributing 67 crucial runs in the first innings against the West Indies at Edgbaston.
Looking ahead to the challenge posed by Australia, particularly with the likelihood of a pink-ball test during the upcoming Ashes series in 2024-25, England’s ability to balance their bowling attack will be pivotal.
Woakes has the potential to play a pivotal role in England’s strategy, offering a counterpoint to the raw pace of bowlers such as Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Josh Tongue. However, McCullum is cautious about looking too far ahead, especially with the next tour potentially being The Ashes 2024-25.
The coach added, “There’s a little bit of ammo that we are going to need on flat wickets when times arise.” McCullum signed off by saying on James Anderson’s role as mentor: “The information he’s been able to pass on and the way he’s fitted seamlessly into our group of coaches—we’re so lucky to call upon that resource and the person he is. It’s never easy, but Jimmy seems really content right now.”
