Think Wood has picked up an elbow injury.
Think Wood has picked up an elbow injury.
Seems like a bizarre decision to include Tongue ahead of Woakes, to me.
I think it is time he retired from test cricket- always poorly handled. Time to come back and enjoy the remainder of his career with Warwickshire
Seems to me he's there essentially to cover for Jimmy. Think he's a real chance for Headingley especially if the Lord's test goes all 5 days and if they're still unsure over Wood's fitness. Trouble is Woakes also recovering from long term niggles so I think that explains ECB reluctance to release him to his county very much. Tongue makes sense from a balance of the attack perspective as opposed to having Jimmy Robinson and Woakes
Chris Woakes' knee problem lurks in the background. We none of us know just how fit he really is but I can understand (up to a point) why they have preferred Tongue who is younger and presumably (now) fully recovered from his injury problem.
I agree that Chris should probably retire from Test cricket rather than suffer the indignity of not being picked. I hope that, if he did so, he would come back to Warwickshire and serve his time out here rather than travel the world as a T20 specialist, though that might be easier on the knee and more lucrative.
Yes there's a big shelf coming at the end of this summer if we see Jimmy Broad and Woakes all retire at the same time. Curran comes back into the reckoning. How on earth England will miss that lot for home series particularly.
I believe Chris is on an "all forms" cricket contract with the ECB which, being worth a truck load of dosh, will be difficult to walk away from. He'll also hope to be involved in the World Cup in the autumn so, for the time being, it's probably in his best interests to just suck it up and keep on carrying the drinks. Who knows, at the rate England are burning through players, he may well get a Test this month, although that could be a poisoned chalice.
I doubt if he'll get a full central contract next year. It would be wonderful if he then chose to do an Alastair Cook and spent a few years back in County Cricket.
Yes, he will hopefullycome back to the Bears - after he gets his knighthood like Sir Alastair, of course.
Good luck to Chris tomorrow. Might be the last time he plays a test for England so hope he takes a few wickets.
Lovely piece on Christopher Roger Woakes here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/11/its-quite-emotional-chris-woakes-reaps-rewards-of-dedication-to-england
Woakesy talks about his future....
Interesting article - but I didn't see any mention of Warwickshire.
Reading between the lines I don't think he knows what he wants to do or is capable of. It was a while ago he said he wanted to come back and pay Warwickshire back for the time invested in him against time lost with England. Bell and Mo Ali said the same. But the fact these guys have a short careers and need to boost their earnings and the fact they're in a slump following international careers might mean this is quite fanciful.
With Woakes I hope he finishes internationals on a high and I'd be happy for him to play franchise gigs overseas that don't affect his stated availability for whatever tapered career with Warks he decides on.
GerryShedd wrote:
Interesting article - but I didn't see any mention of Warwickshire.
A lovely tribute to Woakes here:
Delighted that he’s finally getting the recognition that he deserves
Isn't getting a game in the IPL as far as I can tell, if he doesn't make England T20 squad for the World Cup we could see him at some point this summer...
After a poor showing in the 50 over world cup, you wonder if the selectors will stick with him. Not sure what England's best T20 side is. Would love to see him play some CC cricket otherwise he could be rusty if they decide to play him in any of the Tests.
Has he had any time playing so far? Are the ECB holding him back? I noticed Root has played some cricket recently for Yorkshire.
Warming the bench in the IPL. Hasn't played any competitive cricket since early Feb.
And Duckett playing for Notts. It's the same nearly every season, and Chris isn't getting any younger. I presume he still gets paid for warming the bench in the IPL?
Don't know how it all works. Woakes would be playing county cricket right now if he wasn't at the IPL, no doubt.