Woakes tipped to make return for one-dayers

ENGLAND are confident Chris Woakes will be able to play in the one-day series against Australia later this month even though a second side injury within the last seven months ruled him out of today’s final Ashes Test.

Woakes missed the bulk of last summer after severely injuring his left side in the early stages of the Champions Trophy and felt a problem in the same area near the end of the fourth Test in Melbourne.

It was sufficiently serious for England to change their final Test plans here and leave Woakes out of the team instead of Moeen Ali, with leg-spinner Mason Crane making a Test debut at the SCG at the age of 20.

But they insisted the problem was nothing like as severe this time and that Woakes should be fit for the first of five 50-over matches that follow the final Test back at Melbourne on January 14.

‘Chris has pulled up a bit sore from the last game,’ said captain Joe Root ahead of what England describe as a ‘must-win’ Test in Sydney.

‘He had problems with his side last summer and this is probably a game too far for him. But it might be that he’s ready to go again in a week.’

Woakes became one of England’s most important and improved bowlers during a stellar 2016, but has not yet been the same force overseas during disappointing tours of India and now Australia.

Crane, who this time last year became the first overseas player to play Sheffield Shield cricket for New South Wales in more than 30 years when he appeared at the SCG against South Australia, would have played anyway.

Root said of Crane: ‘The way he has conducted himself this whole trip has been outstanding.’

The absence of Woakes almost certainly granted a reprieve to Ali, who was set to be left out by England rather than Tom Curran before Woakes had his scan in Sydney yesterday.

Moeen has had a dismal series with bat and ball but the presence of Crane could help his bowling on what is expected to be a turning pitch.

‘He has had a tough couple of games but you don’t lose the ability he has overnight and I am confident he can put in a valuable performance for the side,’ said Root of Moeen. ‘My message to him has been to relax and enjoy his cricket. He is at his best when he is having fun.’