England seamer set to return to Asian Test conditions for first time in eight years
Matt Roller06-Oct-2024It is a phrase that most athletes use as a form of humble-brag, deferring to their impressive statistics to avoid sounding arrogant. Last year, Chris Woakes defied convention: “My away record speaks for itself,” he said, while conceding that his overseas Test career was probably over. With 36 wickets at 51.88 in 20 away Tests, he had a point.Yet 15 months later, Woakes finds himself preparing not only to play in England’s first Test against Pakistan, but to lead their bowling attack. He will have to battle scorching-hot conditions in Multan from Monday, where he will play his first away Test in two-and-a-half years and his first in Asia since 2016.It is a situation that few would have predicted when England last toured Pakistan two years ago, with James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood all thriving and Stuart Broad missing on paternity leave. But Anderson and Broad have retired, Robinson has been sidelined and Wood is injured – leaving Woakes recalled as the unlikely spearhead.Before Woakes travelled to Pakistan, he rowed back on some of his previous self-analysis, telling the that he believed some of the criticism of his overseas record had been unduly harsh in tone. “I know what I’m capable of,” he said. “The fact I’ve been selected suggests I’m pretty good and from a knowledge perspective, I have a wealth of it – more so now than ever in my career.”Related
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England’s rationale for selecting Woakes is multi-faceted. His inclusion is recognition of his performance in their home summer, and comes with the belief – or hope – that he is a more complete bowler than when he last toured. It is also priceless from a team construction perspective: in Ben Stokes’ absence, he is the only viable No. 7 in a team with five bowlers.Perhaps balance is the most relevant consideration. In India earlier this year, Stokes’ availability only as a specialist batter left England in a bind: without a bowling option in their squad who was a realistic option at No. 7, they had to compromise somewhere. Their batter-heavy balance left them so reliant on Joe Root’s offspin early in the series that his output with the bat suffered.Woakes had a lean series with the bat in England’s most recent series against Sri Lanka, averaging 9.20. He is probably one spot higher than ideal at No. 7, but his role is often about partnership batting and allowing the top six to maintain their natural tempo: stands of 106 and 52 with Jamie Smith this summer underlined his value in a hinge position.He will also continue to open the bowling – a role which should suit him much better than the one he has filled in the majority of his away Tests, as a change bowler behind Anderson and Broad. “He’ll get the opportunity with the new ball over here, which is something that he should enjoy a lot more,” Brendon McCullum, England’s coach, said on Sunday.