Chris Woakes believes his England career has been extended rather than obstructed in the shadows of the evergreen James Anderson and outgoing Stuart Broad.
A double World Cup winner with an outstanding Test record on home soil, Woakes has nevertheless found himself frequently playing second fiddle to England’s record-breaking seamers in the longest format.
Injury issues have also played their part but, after more than a year out of the side, Woakes had his moment in the sun after a starring role in the Ashes, where his 19 wickets at a phenomenal average of 18.14 in the final three Tests went a long way to helping England claim a hard-fought 2-2 series draw.
His input – there were also a couple of key cameos with the bat – meant he walked off with the prestigious Compton-Miller Medal for player of the series despite not featuring in the first two Tests.
Broad attracted much of the fanfare in his final Test but while his retirement leaves the door ajar, Woakes only had warm words for how much he has learned from the now ex-fast bowler and Anderson.
“The last three weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind and it’s just amazing to be a part of,” Woakes said. “I think I’m just proud of myself to be able to keep going.
“I feel very lucky to have played with Stuart. Jimmy’s the same. The stuff that I’ve learned from them has had a huge impact on how I’ve bowled about over the years. It’s been an honour.
“It’s extended my international career, if anything. We won’t know what would have been if they hadn’t been around, but I only have good things to say in terms of the knowledge they’ve passed on.”
Woakes, who was once regarded as the successor to 41-year-old Anderson, wants a more senior role after Broad’s exit and should be a shoo-in in England owing to an average of 21.88 in home conditions.
But that climbs to 51.88 from a not-inconsiderable 20 Tests overseas, so he was understandably cautious about his expectations of being on the plane to India for England’s next assignment in the new year.
“I think that’s a question for another day,” he said. “Let’s let this sink in. I have no idea. We all know my record away from home, so I think we’ll come to that if it happens.
“I want to play for England for as long as possible. Still, for me, playing international cricket is the pinnacle. You want to be a part of days like (the last day of the fifth Ashes Test).
“You don’t get it anywhere else, so you want this to last for as long as possible whilst you’re still performing.
“I think it’s important that the older guys in the team do pass on the knowledge to younger guys coming through. There’s a big thing to be said for that.”
Woakes won player of the match at the Kia Oval after bagging seven wickets in the Test, as England levelled the series – all the more remarkable given he was nursing a grade one quad tear.
“A tiny, tiny one,” he said. “I felt it in over 10 (in Australia’s first innings) and I was a bit worried because it was the first innings and I thought ‘oh, no, it could be going’.
“But then I ended up bowling 25 in the first innings and it disappeared. It’s one of them. I’ve had the physio on it all week. To get through made it all worthwhile.”
Woakes thought a knee injury he sustained on his last Test assignment in the Caribbean in March 2022 might have ended his career and reflected with incredulity at how his fortunes have turned.
“The way my knee felt, I wasn’t sure if I was going to play cricket again,” he said. “At no point did I think I’d be stood here now with with what I’ve achieved. It’s pretty incredible to think about.”
Woakes had an operation last summer to correct the problem and was asked if he could pass on his surgeon’s number to skipper Ben Stokes, who has been battling through a longstanding issue in his own knee.
“I’m sure if there’s a surgeon to be seen, he will be seeing my surgeon,” Woakes added. “Andy Williams is the best. He’s done an amazing job. He’s done two ops on my knee and thankfully I’m still here.
“But I think Stokes’ issue is probably slightly different to what I had.”
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
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