Chris Woakes Hoping For Return To Action At The End Of June
Published - 12 Jun 2022, 06:48 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:08 AM
England pace bowler Chris Woakes is interested in aiming his comeback to competitive cricket at the end of June. The 33-year-old played his last game for England in the final Test of the three-match series against West Indies in Grenada in March, where the tourists lost 0-1.
Woakes was part of England’s squads for the T20 World Cup 2021 and Ashes 2021-22. The England all-rounder has been struggling with his long-time knee injury, which he has managed for several years, and was ruled out for the first two months of county cricket due to the same injury.
Chris Woakes missed early part of county cricket for Warwickshire
Woakes’ county club, Warwickshire, didn’t set any specific timeline on the player’s return to action. He was also missing from England’s squad for the first two Tests in the ongoing series against New Zealand at home.
“He has been struggling with a longstanding knee injury and has also had a little ailment with his ankle, but it’s the knee injury that is holding him back. At the moment there is no timescale on when he will be back,” Warwickshire head coach Mark Robinson said on May 24.
I’d like to be playing by the end of the month: Chris Woakes
Woakes mentioned his struggles with the knee but looked promising in staging a comeback to action in competitive cricket.
“My body needed a bit of a break. The knee is the thing causing me the most grief at the moment. It’s been a tricky period of time, but it feels like it’s turned a corner,” Woakes said on Sky Sports.
“I’ve got the ball back in my hand, albeit some very light bowling sessions, but I feel like competitive cricket isn’t too far away. Personally, I’d like to be playing by the end of the month,” he added.
Woakes has picked 130 wickets at an average of 30.73 in 45 Test appearances for England apart from scoring 1675 runs with the bat, which includes a hundred and six fifties.
Woakes could probably be considered for England in the rescheduled fifth Test against India, starting on July 1 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
England is currently leading the three-match Test series 1-0 after their five-wicket win in the first Test at Lord’s. The hosts rode on former skipper Joe Root’s magnificent 115 not out to chase 278 in the fourth innings.
