Woakes steps it up for Test return
ENGLAND all-rounder Chris Woakes has set his sights on playing in Warwickshire’s County Championship match against Middlesex next month to prove his fitness for the three-Test series against the West Indies.
Woakes has been sidelined for two months with a torn side muscle which he suffered in England’s opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy.
He played for Warwickshire’s second team as a batsman at Durham last week but stepped up his comeback this week by bowling for the first time in the Second XI Championship match against Northamptonshire at Portland Road in Birmingham.
Woakes intends to up his workload in the Edgbaston nets next week but with no red-ball cricket scheduled for Warwickshire’s first or second teams next week, he will have to wait for the Championship game at Lord’s for a first team return.
“There are no matches next week which is a bit of an issue. There’s no real rush for me to get involved in T20 cricket because it’s a completely different format to red ball cricket,” Woakes said.
“I my own mind I haven’t ruled out the SA series at all, but there are players in the team at the minute who are doing well. So, that Championship match at Lord’s is probably what I’m looking towards.You don’t just walk back into a Test team without having played some Championship cricket or first team cricket.
“Hopefully I will get myself ready to go at Lord’s and get some performances in before the West Indies series.
“The way the fixture have been since the Champions Trophy and me starting my comeback, there has been no red ball cricket available which is why I have played a couple of second team games.”
If all goes to plan, Woakes will make his England return against the West Indies at Edgbaston, his home ground, in the first day/night Test to be played in England.
“Playing at Edgbaston under lights would be a completely different scenario. I haven’t played in a match with the pink ball yet,” he added.
“Playing Test cricket for England is amazing, playing at home is even better and to play in the first day/night Test match in England would be something very special.”