Woakes is cooking up a storm ahead of Ashes

Chris Woakes is confident his preparation for a maiden ashes campaign in Australia is bang on course after his six-wicket haul in Townsville.

He insisted last week in Adelaide he wanted to face a Cricket Australia XI again, preferring in his words to be “over-cooked than under-cooked” for the first Test in Brisbane. He finished with six for 54 on day one of four as the hosts reached 249 for nine at stumps, and Woakes declared afterwards that he is on target to peak at the Gabba.

“All the numbers are saying that I’m getting close to being ‘cooked’. I’m pleased with where I’m at,” he said.

“A week away from the first Test, it’s always nice to hit a bit of form.

“As a bowling unit, we feel like we’ve gone really well today. We want to continue to work on plans we might be taking into the Test series.” Woakes’ summer at home was wrecked by a nasty side strain and, even after he was fit to return for the penultimate Test at Headingley, he was then dropped for the final match of the series against West Indies at Lord’s.

“Whenever you’re left out of a Test team, you’re always dying to get back in it and prove your worth,” said Woakes, adding that he is primed to help make up for the absence of fellow all-rounder Ben Stokes on this tour. Stokes is still at home waiting to hear if he will be charged with causing actual bodily harm after a late-night fracas in Bristol in September.

“With Ben being away, it means all of us have got to step up,” added Woakes.

“I hope I can do that – score runs and take wickets. That’s my plan... and I feel like I’m building well.”

There was an early reminder, from a small but vociferous crowd at the Tony Ireland Stadium, of the “welcome” England are sure to receive from the home support next week.

But at least an injury “scare” proved just that as wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow suffered just a bruised finger after an awkward take off Woakes’ bowling.