ENGLAND WAIT ON WILLEY SCAN
CHRIS WOAKES believes there is room for both him and Ben Stokes in any England side.
Woakes was man of the series in the 2- 2 Test draw with Pakistan, after winning back his international place as Stokes’ deputy earlier this summer.
The 27-year-old Warwickshire star got his chance when Stokes needed knee surgery in May and although the pair played together at Old Trafford last month in the win over Pakistan, it was a bit of a rarity.
Stokes has featured in just 12 of the 48 one-day international appearances Woakes has made to date.
Ahead of the Royal London Series against Pakistan, which starts in Southampton on Wednesday, Woakes told Sunday Mirror Sport: “I don’t think anyone would say they wouldn’t enjoy playing with Ben Stokes.
“He’s a fantastic cricketer who balances the team really well.
“He can win a game with the bat, the ball or even in the field, so playing in an England team with him is brilliant.
“We can complement each other, we are two totally different players and it is not as though we are vying for the same spot any more.
“When Ben got injured earlier this summer I was the natural person to step in and try to fill his shoes as the next all-rounder.
“But it is slightly different because Ben bats at six or even higher whereas I was always going to bat seven, eight or nine and play more of an important role with the ball in the Te s t matches.
“A s thing s have transpired, it do e s n’ t actually feel like I have filled Ben’s shoes – I have just stepped in and done what I do.
“Ben is a completely different cricketer to me, it’s not as though we are like for like in any aspect, and so it was important to try to be myself, and not be Ben – it would have been silly to do that.
“We have such strength in depth now that I don’t see why we can’t play myself, Ben, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid – four all-rounders – in any England team.”
Although Woakes finished as England’s leading wickettaker in the four Test s against Pakistan, he reckons it was his incredible innings against Sri Lanka in the one day international at Trent Bridge in June that kick-started things for
Yorkshire but was clearly out of Meanwhile, opener Jason Roy DAVID WILLEY gave England an sorts and spooned a soft catch reckons Robin Smith’s England injury scare ahead of next week’s to Paul Collingwood for just ODI record score is in danger one-day international opener three. when the five-match series against Pakistan. Yorkshire coach Jason against Pakistan kicks off on
Willey was hit on the wrist by Gillespie said: “He is a little bit Wednesday in Southampton. a fierce drive from Durham’s sore and in a bit of pain. We Hampshire legend Smith Mark Stoneman in the T20 won’t know anything before the smashed 167 not out against match between Yorkshire and medical procedures.” Australia, at Edgbaston in 1993, Durham. Willey has played 18 ODIs and the mark has stood for 23 The 26-year-old left the field since making his debut last st years.yea Roy (left) came agJ for treatment before returning to year but has struggled to agonisingly close to it in finish his four-over spell but get into the Yorkshire June when he made 162 failed to take a wicket and, after side for Championship against Sri Lanka at the a rain break, he sat out the rest cricket and looks to be Oval as England of the Durham innings. competing with Chris successfully chased
Willey opened the batting for Woakes. downd 305. him this year. England needed more than 200 with six wickets down when he walked to the crease – and his unbeaten 95 helped seal a dramatic tie.
“My Test record at the start of the summer was nothing to shout about, so there were always doubts about whether I was quite good enough to play at that level,” Woakes added.
“So it has felt like a breakthrough summer and that moment at Trent Bridge gave me huge confidence.”
Durham’s Stokes returns after a month on the international sidelines with a calf muscle tear.
And he showed his well-being with a half-century for Durham in the t20 Blast semi- final against Yorkshire at Edbaston yesterday.
But the 26-year-old insists Smith can soon be knocked off his perch by any of England’s big hitters such as Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root. The Surrey man said: “I got 162 and I would take that every day. One day the record will be beaten. The talent and skill in this side is scary.”
England v Pakistan ODI series: Wednesday, Southampton, 2pm; Saturday, Lord’s 10.30am; Tuesday August 30, Nottingham 2pm; Thursday, September 1, Leeds, 2pm; Sunday, September 4, Cardiff, 10.30am