Woakes steps up for Stokes, grabs six

NO Ben Stokes, no worries for England if they’ve got Chris Woakes.

The English all-rounder showed he has the potential to fill Stokes’ shoes with figures of 6-54 in his team’s last warm-up game against an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI, leaving them 9-249 after day one.

It marked the second time in a week Woakes has made light work of the young side, after he also took 4-17 last week in Adelaide as the CA XI were rolled for 75.

Yesterday, the English paceman took 4-8 in 22 balls during his second spell then returned to begin cleaning up the tail alongside Stuart Broad (1-33). Test hopeful Craig Overton (2-32) also edged closer to his debut. Seemingly next in line if Jake Ball fails to recover from an ankle injury by next week, the mediumpacer claimed two wickets.

Stokes’ availability is still uncertain, as a police investigation remains ongoing into an alleged street brawl in September.

“With Ben being away all of us have got to step up,” Woakes said. “Hopefully I can do that, hopefully I can score runs and take wickets. That’s my plan. I’ll be trying my best to do that.”

Because of injury and nonselection the 28-year-old Woakes has played just one Test this year, but averages 32.14 with the bat compared with Stokes’ 35.72. He claimed the scalps of CA XI openers Jake Carder (39) and Nick Larkin (30) in the first two overs of his second spell yesterday, after the pair had put on a 66run opening stand.

Ryan Gibson (7) and Jason Sangha (0) also fell in quick succession to the English quick after the lunch break.