World Cup-winning allrounder Chris Woakes has called time on his career with England at the age of 36 after missing out on selection for the Ashes in Australia this winter
Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket after being left out of the England squad for this winter’s Ashes. The 36-year-old allrounder had been keen to continue, but has called time on a near 15-year career after a shoulder injury saw him miss out on selection to face Australia.
Woakes dislocated his shoulder in the final Test of the summer against India at the Oval and missed out on selection for the Ashes. He bows out after taking 192 wickets and scoring 2,034 runs in 62 Tests for England, while having also been a mainstay of the side which won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022.
“The moment has come, and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket,” Woakes wrote on social media.
“Playing for England was something I aspired to do since was a kid dreaming in the back garden, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived out those dreams. Representing England, wearing the Three Lions and sharing the field with teammates over the last 15 years, many of whom have become lifelong friends, are things I’ll look back on with the greatest pride.
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“Making my debut in 2011 in Australia seems like yesterday but time flies when you’re having fun. Lifting two World Cups and being part of some amazing Ashes series is something I never thought was possible, and those memories and celebrations with my teammates will stay with me forever.
“To my Mum and Dad, my wife Amie and our girls Laila and Evie, thank you for your unwavering love, support and sacrifices over the years. None of this would have been possible without you.
“To the fans, especially the Barmy Army, thank you for the passion, the cheers and the belief. To my coaches, teammates and everyone behind the scenes – both with England and Warwickshire, who helped me play for my country – your guidance and friendship has meant the world. I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future. Thank you!”
His decision comes after England’s managing director of cricket, Rob Key, essentially took the decision out of Woakes’ hand. Speaking last week, after Woakes missed out on a central contract, Key said the veteran allrounder hadn’t been considered for the Ashes squad.
“It’s been as tough a time for someone, I think, in cricket terms, the timing of it (the shoulder dislocation) as much as anything else, and the chance of reoccurence for the immediate future for Chris Woakes,” Key said.
“He was running out of time to be ready for the start for the Ashes. And then once you get out of an Ashes series, you’re often looking at the next cycle, really. So Chris Woakes isn’t in our plans at the minute… at all.”
Reacting to the news, Key said: “Chris Woakes is one of the finest people to have played the game. An extraordinary career carved out alongside two of England’s greatest ever bowlers (James Anderson and Stuart Broad). A man who helped every team he played in, even before he walked onto the field.”
As well as being a Test stalwart, Woakes took 204 wickets in 155 caps across the white-ball formats, helping England win the 50-over and T20 World Cups. He was player of the series in 2023 Ashes and a dependable performer for his country in all three formats.