Just four months back Chris Woakes had played a prominent role in helping England bounce back to draw a five-match Ashes series against Australia 2-2 at home. Woakes played in three of those Tests finishing with 19 wickets to claim player-of-the-series award.
Despite his heroics, the fast bowling allrounder was omitted in England’s 16-man squad for the next year’s India Test tour a decision that has left him with ‘mixed emotions’.
“It’s mixed emotions,” Woakes was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “Whenever there’s a Test squad announcement, you’re always desperate to be in it but at the same time, at my age, with my away record – particularly in the subcontinent – I feel like it’s a fair decision.”
Woakes’ record when playing in overseas Tests had a lot to do with the snub.
He has 36 wickets from 20 Tests at an average of 51.88 when playing away from home compared to 149 wickets from 48 Tests at 29.13 in England.
“We had conversations about where my best cricket is likely to be played moving forward and naturally in Test cricket, it looks likely to be at home,” Woakes said.
“Of course you want to perform in all conditions. It’s something which I’ve tried for a long period of time. There was a period where my away form actually got a bit better, but that was playing in New Zealand, South Africa, where generally seamers go a little bit better,” he added.
The 34-year-old admits it hasn’t been easy for him to replicate his home form in away Tests.
“In the white-ball game my away record is almost probably better than my home record. So it’s not just purely those conditions, but with the red ball, I have found it a little bit difficult,” Woakes said.
Woakes will be representing Sharjah Warriors at the ILT20 during the time when his England teammates will be in India for the Test series.
The tour gets underway from January 25.
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