Woakes ‘excited’ to take his form into Test series
‘I feel my game has been constantly improving’ Seamer credits IPL stint for white-ball success
There is no doubt who will bowl the first ball of the next World Cup for England, provided he does not pull an intercostal muscle, as he did at the start of last summer’s Champions Trophy. Chris Woakes was a major figure in winning the one-day series in Australia and he kicked on to become the player of the series in New Zealand, which England won 3-2 by virtue of their seven-wicket victory on Saturday.
Woakes, steady of nerve and length, never allowed New Zealand an opening partnership in the series – their highest was 12 – because he hammered away so accurately with the new white ball. He took a wicket in every one of his five opening spells, whereas Jonny Bairstow shared an opening stand of 155 with Alex Hales in the decider and sprinted to 104 off 60 balls with brilliant bottom-handed brutality.
The next question is whether Woakes can keep improving as a Test bowler as well as a white-ball one. His Ashes was disappointing – 10 wickets in four Tests – because he did not swing the ball or move it much sideways. With an English-made ball at home can he step up to replace James Anderson or Stuart Broad, or even do so in the two-test series against New Zealand, which starts on Thursday week? Firstly, though, it is proper to dwell on his latest success because international cricketers are permitted too little time to do so: Woakes had to get on a plane to Hamilton, where England’s Test players will practise, but before doing so he enjoyed a brief reflection.
“It’s been a good series,” said Woakes, modest as ever after taking 10 wickets at only 20 runs each. “Part of opening the bowling is trying to pick up wickets up top – that’s crucial to stem the flow of runs at the top of the order. Generally you have opening batters who are quite aggressive and come at you quite hard. Getting wickets early is crucial. I have found that picking up one or two really helps the rest of the spell.”
There has been no one sudden leap forward, but gradual improvement until he has become England’s finest white-ball seamer. “I feel I have been constantly improving,” Woakes said. “My lengths have been really good this series and I’ve adapted well to the surfaces, and just being relentless. I have not tried to change a huge amount, just being consistent. I have worked on a few slower balls and things at the death.
“You are constantly a work in progress at the back end of the innings, it’s a tough time to bowl, especially if the set batsman’s in. I am working on a few things, still trying to nail the yorkers, but I am really pleased with the way it’s gone all series. I’ve executed my plans and skills reasonably well.”
Whether traditionalists like it or not, it is undeniable that part of Woakes’s improvement is due to having bowled at the death in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders with at least 50,000 spectators ready to criticise. “I felt like I came back from my stint last year with a few new ideas. Bowling in those highpressure situations you get in the IPL puts you in a good place when you come back and play for England – working on slower balls and hiding (the ball with his left hand). It was a great experience.”
Now it is time to adjust again. Such is the lot of today’s player that even the basic tools are constantly changing: on Wednesday and Thursday England have two days of a practice game with a pink ball in a day-nighter, followed by two days with a red ball.
“The change in format is always a test but I’m looking forward to it. We’d have liked to have gone better in the Ashes, but we will try to take whatever positives we can out of that series and try to put them right in this series. New Zealand are a very good side, especially in home conditions. We are going into a pink-ball Test, which we all haven’t played that much of. It’s not a step into the unknown, but things are happening that you don’t expect.
“I’m excited, I’m sure it will be a great series.”