England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing to a close a career spanning about 15 years in the England setup.
Woakes career and what led to this moment
Chris Woakes, now aged 36, made his Test debut in 2013 and has since played across all three formats for England. Over his career he appeared in 62 Test matches, 122 one-day internationals (ODIs), and 33 Twenty20 internationals (T20Is).
In Tests, Woakes claimed 192 wickets at an average of 29.61. With the bat, he also contributed, including one Test century and seven fifties, averaging about 25.11. On the white-ball side, he was part of England’s successful World Cup campaigns, winning the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Factors behind the decision
There are a few reasons that appear to have led Woakes to retire from the international stage:
- He suffered a dislocated shoulder while fielding in the final Test against India at The Oval. That injury made him unavailable and ruled him out of contention for the upcoming Ashes series.
- The England management had indicated that Woakes was not in their future plans. England’s team director, Rob Key, confirmed that given his injury and the selectors looking to the next cycle, Woakes’ chances of a recall had diminished.
- With his central contract not renewed and his omission from selection for the Ashes, it appears Woakes felt the timing was right to step back from international duties.
Woakes’ words & future intentions
In a statement posted on social media, Woakes said that playing for England had been a childhood dream, and he feels incredibly fortunate to have achieved that. He also mentioned how representing England and forming lasting friendships in the team are things he’ll look back on with pride.
Although retiring from internationals, Woakes plans to continue playing county cricket. He is also interested in exploring franchise opportunities.
Legacy & reflection
Chris Woakes’ career will be remembered for:
- Consistency and versatility: the ability to contribute both with bat and ball across formats.
- Big match performances: being part of major tournament wins and stepping up in pressure situations.
- Character: he has often been praised for his professionalism, resilience, and sportsmanship.
As England moves into a new cycle, the departure of Woakes marks the end of an era for a player who bridged the gap between older generations and newer ones, often doing the hard graft without always being in the limelight.
2 comments
Well, Chris Woakes decides to hang up his England boots just as his contract expires and before the Ashes – talk about timing! Poor chaps dislocated shoulder probably made the decision for him, and fair play to the England selectors for looking ahead instead of backward. Hes had a cracking career, contributing with both bat and ball and being part of those World Cup wins. Sounds like hes ready to focus on county cricket and franchise gigs now. Good luck to him, though it does mean one less reliable all-rounder to depend on when we need someone to pull their weight without too much fuss! Farewell, Woakes!last prophecy deltarune
Ah, Chris Woakes farewell. Always knew he was a good all-rounder, but did we really need him for the Ashes? England selectors are like a dating app – once they see someone else available, they drop you faster than the ball after a short delivery! Good riddance to bad rubbish, especially when the alternative is… well, lets not dwell on it. Well played, Chris, on chasing that childhood dream, even if its just to play county cricket now. Maybe next time he can aim for the World Club Cup – less pressure, more sunshine. Good luck with those franchise deals, hope you find some sponsors who appreciate a player who can actually take wickets. Farewell, Woakes, and dont let the door hit you on the way out… or rather, the way into the county clubs!màn hình đếm ngược thời gian