Woakes to return for Second Test
England vs West Indies
Chris Woakes will return to the England side for today’s (25) Second Test against the West Indies at Headingley.
The Warwickshire all-rounder has not played international cricket since June after struggling with a side strain.
He will replace fellow pace bowler Toby Roland-jones, who took four wickets at Edgbaston as England won the first Test by an innings and 209 runs.
“It’s a great chance for Chris to come back into the side and show his class,” Captain Joe Root said yesterday.
Woakes took seven wickets and scored 65 on his return to first-class cricket against Middlesex earlier this month.
A regular in all three formats for England, the 28-year-old bowled just two overs in England’s first Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh, before leaving the field.
He was an important part of England’s Test side last summer, taking 26 wickets in four Tests against Pakistan, and scoring 177 runs in seven innings.
Woakes was replaced in the Test squad by Middlesex seamer Rolandjones, who has taken 14 wickets at an average of 19.35 in three Test appearances this year.
“Roland-jones has not done a lot wrong at all, he’s played some fantastic cricket and I see him being a massive part of our future moving forward,” Root added.
West Indies have not won a Test in England since 2000 and have not won a series away from home against a team other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since 1995. (BBC)