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Chris Woakes is \u201cat ease\u201d with being left out of England\u2019s Test tour of India in the new year.<\/p>\n
Woakes collected the Compton\u2013Miller Medal for player of the series in the Ashes, inspiring England\u2019s comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, but is surplus to requirements for the five-match series in India.<\/p>\n
By the lofty standards he sets himself, the 34-year-old\u2019s Test record overseas is modest as he averages 51.88 with the ball, exactly 30 runs per wicket higher than a superb resume at home.<\/p>\n
Having been notified by England director of men\u2019s cricket Rob Key and Test head coach Brendon McCullum ahead of time, Woakes is satisfied to focus on white-ball cricket for the next few months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s mixed emotions,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re always desperate to be in it, but at the same time, at my age, with my away record \u2013 particularly in the subcontinent \u2013 I feel like it\u2019s a fair decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean to say that when there\u2019s not subcontinent tours that I won\u2019t be available, hopefully they\u2019ll still potentially pick me in those.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I feel at ease with the decision, if that makes sense. The communication was good, I know where I stand so it\u2019s fine by me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Woakes will instead go to the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates, which starts in January, and hopes to be snapped up in the Indian Premier League auction for next year\u2019s edition.<\/p>\n
He was speaking in Barbados, having linked up with England ahead of their five T20s against the West Indies which act as reconnaissance for next year\u2019s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States.<\/p>\n
His last visit to these parts in March 2022 was in the final throes of Joe Root\u2019s captaincy, with a 1-0 Test loss compounded by a knee injury that needed surgery and left Woakes sidelined for several months.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want that to be the same case going to India, bowling on tracks which are unresponsive to my type of bowling,\u201d Woakes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSlamming the front knee down at 34 is not really ideal when I want to play a lot of white-ball cricket moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s different when that\u2019s just your sole focus, but when you want to play all forms, it makes it a wise decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite being white-ball vice-captain, Moeen Ali seems set to be dropped by England in Tuesday\u2019s opening T20, which marks the start of the International Cricket Council\u2019s stop clock trial.<\/p>\n
If a bowling team is not ready to start an over 60 seconds after the completion of the last one, they will be penalised five runs when it happens for a third time and on each occasion thereafter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t really spoken about it as of yet, but I\u2019ve seen the idea of it and it kind of makes sense,\u201d Woakes added. \u201cIt hopefully will speed the game up a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re out there in the middle, you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re playing it slow, the game does feel fast. Guys might be taking drinks or swapping gloves and things, but the game does feel pretty quick.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re in the entertainment business and we need to make sure the viewers are happy as well. So I think it\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n