Woakes hopes Ashes will not get ‘personal’

England all-rounder Chris Woakes says he does not expect “personal” issues to be used in any sledging during the upcoming Ashes series.

The build-up to the first Test, which gets under way in Brisbane next Wednesday, has been overshadowed by racism and sexism scandals.

English cricket has been engulfed by claims of institutional racism, while Tim Paine stepped down from his role as Australia captain last month following sexting revelations. Woakes said: “Whatever goes on the field, goes on the field, and an Ashes series raises that rivalry.

“I think what’s happened in both camps, a lot of the issues are personal and cricket is played best when that sort of stuff is left to the side and we let the skills do the talking.

“In my experience, playing in three Ashes series, it’s not overstepped the line once when I’ve been around.”