‘WOLFPACK WON’T STOP TITLE WORK’
Chris: We’ve been really slow starters in recent series but now I’m witnessing history watching world-beaters Jimmy and Stuart.. we can put an end to that SUPER LEAGUE
Lost first Test in Brisbane by 10 wickets. Lost series 4-0. Lost first Test in Auckland by innings and 49 runs. Lost series 1-0.
Lost first Test at Lord’s by nine wickets. Series drawn 1-1.
Won first Test in Birmingham by 31 runs. Won series 4-1. Won first Test in Galle by 211 runs. Won series 3-0.
Lost first Test in Bridgetown by 381 runs. Lost series 2-1. Lost first Test in Birmingham by 251 runs. Series drawn 2-2. Lost first Test in Mount Maunganui by innings and 65 runs. Lost series 1-0.
Lost first Test in Centurion by 107 runs. Won series 3-1. 2020 Lost first Test by four wickets. Won series 2-1
HOME bird Chris Woakes hopes the stardust of two alltime greats will cure England’s alarming record of false starts in Test series. to win 2-1. Woakes wrapped up the series by taking 5-50 and his record in England – 81 wickets at 22.53 each – should be enough to keep his place if Ben Stokes can only play as a specialist batsman.
But he admits there will be no hiding place if
England fall to a ninth defeat in
11 opening Tests of a series.
Like the rest of the squad, Woakes was allowed home for five nights to see his family after five weeks’ incarceration in the Covid-secure bubble. And he said: “We don’t see ourselves as having an excuse at all.
“I’d love to put my finger on why it keeps happening and it’s getting to a stage where it’s not just coincidence.
“But we want to put that right, this is a new series and we know the conditions here at Old Trafford, so those are no excuses.
“We’ve been living cricket for five weeks, staying in the hotels on the grounds, pitch-facing rooms, and whenever you wake up or have an hour off, you’re constantly looking at a cricket field, which makes it a little tricky. But we get used to it.”
Woakes had a close-up view when Broad took his 500th Test wicket in the third Test against the Windies and followed sidekick Anderson as the only other Englishman to reach the milestone.
He said: “I hope I’ve done enough to be in that starting XI.
“But we’ve got still two of E n g l a n d ’ s greats charging in and taking wickets.
“It’s incredibly hard just getting into the side when those two are around – but it’s also special being on the park with two of England’s greats.
“They’ve still got a lot of cricket in them but when they finish, whenever that might be, they are going to be so hard to replace.”
Jonathan Trott has been appointed as an England batting consultant for the Test series against Pakistan. The 39-year-old averaged 44.08 in 52 Test appearances for England, scoring nine centuries.
RICHIE MYLER is refusing to let the Toronto fiasco derail his trophy bid with Leeds Rhinos.
The 30-year-old full-back was due to join the Canadian side at the end of the season but that is now in major doubt.
The Wolfpack pulled out of this year’s Super League, just 13 days before Sunday’s restart, and there’s a risk they may fold. They will have to reapply next year, if they decide to carry on.
It leaves Myler (below), plus the Wolfpack’s players and other new signings, in limbo over their futures.
But the former England star said he is trying to blot out the uncertainty and simply enjoy playing again after lockdown.
He said: “Your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen, but my agent is looking after that for me.
“We’ll all have a clearer picture in the next couple of weeks I think.
“I have a job to do at Leeds and I have to focus on delivering my best for Leeds in whatever role that is.”
Rhinos, who have hinted they may offer Myler a new deal, went top of Super League after Sunday’s thrilling golden point 27-26 win over Huddersfield as the sport resumed.
They were 20 points down with 15 minutes to go but Myler played a key part in a stunning fightback.