Chris Woakes has made the decision to retire from international cricket following his exclusion from the England squad for the upcoming Ashes series. The 36-year-old allrounder, who had expressed a desire to continue playing, has opted to end his nearly 15-year career due to a shoulder injury that prevented him from being selected to face Australia.
Woakes sustained a shoulder dislocation during the final Test against India at the Oval, leading to his absence from the Ashes squad. Throughout his tenure, he amassed 192 wickets and scored 2,034 runs in 62 Test matches for England. Notably, he was a key contributor to England’s victories in the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022.
In a social media post, Woakes expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent England, a childhood dream he cherished. Recalling his debut in 2011 in Australia, he highlighted the joy of lifting two World Cups and participating in memorable Ashes encounters, experiences he never imagined possible. Woakes credited his family for their unwavering support and acknowledged the fans, particularly the Barmy Army, for their passion.
Despite Woakes’ intention to continue his cricket career at the county level and explore new opportunities in franchise cricket, his retirement was influenced by England’s managing director of cricket, Rob Key. Key explained that Woakes was not considered for the Ashes squad due to the timing of his injury and the potential for recurrence, indicating that Woakes was no longer part of England’s immediate plans.
Reflecting on Woakes’ career, Key praised his contributions to the game and highlighted his role alongside esteemed bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. In addition to his Test achievements, Woakes excelled in white-ball cricket, claiming 204 wickets in 155 appearances across various formats and making significant contributions to England’s World Cup triumphs. He was recognized as the player of the series in the 2023 Ashes and remained a reliable performer for his country in all cricket formats.