The 35-year-old all-rounder is now England’s most experienced bowler.
Chris Woakes has opened up the possibility of leading the attack on the last Ashes tour as he prepares to succeed James Anderson as England’s senior bowler.
As the all-time record wicket-taker farewell approaches, Warks will be aiming for his 50th international cap in the second Test against West Indies next week.
Since his debut in 2013, Walkes has often played second-string to the wicket-taking giants led by the Anderson-Stuart Broad duo, but he is now tasked with overseeing the transition to a new era.
The question is how long that role will last. The disparity in Woakes’s home and away statistics is well known. He averages 22.04 in England, while he averages 51.88 overseas. It has long been assumed that the next Australian tour, in the winter of 2025, will be a bridge too far for the 35-year-old.
One of the reasons Anderson was forced to leave was because Ben Stokes was looking to rebuild a winning bowling group in Australia, but Walke has set no limits on how long the job will last as he takes on England’s most experienced bowler.
“I don’t think anything is ruled out these days,” he said.
“It would be difficult for me to stand here and say I will be the opening bowler for the Ashes, because my away form is not as good as my home form.
“But at the same time, I’ve seen Stuart and Jimmy evolve as they’ve gotten older, and I believe I have the potential to do the same.
“Seeing Jimmy last week was a long time coming for him, but it doesn’t last forever. You have to work hard to be a part of this team and have the luck to play for three Lions.
“During my time with England, I always tried to keep myself in top condition for the next tournament, the next game, the next series.
“Every time I go out, I’m going to give 100 percent and try to do my part for the team as best as I can.”
Anderson will serve as fast bowling mentor for the next few weeks and the 41-year-old will continue to play a role in the team, after which he could take up a more permanent role.
He may be imparting wisdom in the dressing room rather than on the pitch, but he will be an invaluable asset to the likes of Gus Atkinson, who took a remarkable 12 wickets on debut at Lord’s, and Dylan Pennington, who will be hoping to be named in the starting line-up this week.
July 31, 2023 | Stuart Broad’s Final Test
Two legends of English cricket start back-to-back home Tests
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 13, 2024
And no one knows that better than Works.
“I feel very fortunate to have bowled with one of the greatest players England have ever bowled with. The lessons and little nuggets of information I have learnt from him over the years have definitely made me a better player,” he said.
“I think he’s going to be really great in that new role, not just over the summer but going forward. He’s always been there to give me a little bit of advice.
“He evaluates conditioning and pitches better than anyone I’ve ever seen. The way he can tell early on what delivery is going to work on the surface is incredible. He’s the best at doing it.”
