Woakes answers English prayers at Lord’s
Chris Woakes was last night backed to become an England Test mainstay af ter his 11- wicket wonder show against Pakistan.
The 27-year- old seamer is only the third England pace bowler in 50 years to land 10 wickets in a Lord’s Test after returning second- innings figures of five for 31 yesterday.
England rallied at the end of a rollercoaster third day of the opening Test to leave Pakistan 214 for eight in their second innings, the hosts trailing by 281 runs.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur branded Woakes “undroppable” after his second five-wicket haul in the match, with England team- mate Moeen Ali echoing the sentiment.
Ali said: “I’d be gutted if I got 11 wickets and got dropped.
“Obviously the coaches and the captain wi l l decide selection moving forward but we’ve got quality seamers to come in and Ben Stokes can play just as a batter at times.
“So it’s very good for the side and it just shows the quality we have. It’s a good headache to have for the selectors.”
All- rounder Stokes and all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson will be fit for next week’s Old Trafford clash but Woakes’s stunning Lord’s performance must surely earn him a spot in the second Test line-up.
Pakistan coach Arthur said: “He’s been exceptional. What a game he’s had. He almost makes himself undroppable for a good period of time now.
“But he’s improved hugely over the last year. He will be a big player for England going forward without a doubt.”
Despite England’s late recovery yesterday their first-innings total of 272 fell well below par. They already have to equal their highest run chase at Lord’s to secure victory but will doubtless need to improve on that 282 which edged out New Zealand in 2004.
Ali admitted the hosts will have to devise better strategies to fend off in-form Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah.
Yasir ended England’s first innings with six for 72, Eng land finding him unplayable at times.
Ali said: “We didn’t bat very well in the first innings and we want to put that right.
“It’s going to be tough to win. They have a very good leg- spinner who causes us trouble. We’ll have to play well against Yasir if we’re to win.”
Champs Elysees in Paris next Sunday.
Tomorrow is also Nelson Mandela Day – and Cav’s team is South African.
He said: “Monday in Berne is not an easy sprint but it’s a sprint. It’s Mandela Day so it’s big.”
As France began three days of national mourning, there was a minute’s silence prior to the start of the stage to honour the victims of the Nice terrorist attack.
A he a d of t oday ’ s mountainous 100- mile stage from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz, Chris Froome finished easily to keep the yellow jersey by 1min 47secs from Bauke Mollema.
The Brit was relieved, saying: “It was a great day to recover a little bit after a few big days.
“We’re heading back to the mountains. A lot of people are looking to make up time so we’ll look at things more defensively.”