Chris Woakes’ retirement comes less in the flurry of a half volley than it does in the back cover of a lengthy, enjoyable smithereens – one that merits as loud a clap even if we wished it went on much longer. Now at 36, after 14 seasons and 396 scalps in every format, Woakes has walked away from international cricket, following the slight of an Ashes squad exclusion and a shoulder injury, becoming the image of his final stand.
The numbers and the moments
Statistics rarely tell the full story, but Woakes does the job: 62 Tests, 122 ODIs, 33 T20Is, 173 ODI wickets, and a reputation of standing up in the big moments. In England’s 2019 World Cup and for the T20 title in 2022, Woakes was a big factor in England’s success. Remember Brisbane when Woakes was young and captured 6 for 45 and headline news? Those flashes of brilliance highlight a career defined by consistency and timing. When he stroked that one Test hundred at Lord’s, he showed he could produce a bat when it mattered.
Beyond the figures — the team player
If you were to speak with teammates, their answer would be the smaller things: seam position at the death, the composure in a tight run-chase, and those sporadic, but useful knocks with the bat. Walking to the wicket at The Oval with his arm in a sling was a combination of courage and love of the shirt – the act was a story of loyalty, not hubris. He wasn’t always a first-choice in Tests behind Anderson and Broad, but when he was asked, he repaid the trust. He also quietly mentored up-and-coming seamers to give them the skill set and calm that made him dependable, and on Instagram, he frequently thanked his family in farewell and recognition. His Player of the Series recognition in the 2023 Ashes reinforced that ability to change momentum through relentlessness instead of brilliance.
What England loses and what comes next
England have said goodbye to an all-rounder who gives challenge across formats – a bridge into the past and a calming figure on the field. With Broad and Anderson gone, a leadership and experience vacuum will be difficult to fill. Selection chiefs, after saying he “isn’t in our plans… at all,” now have to speed up the process of blooding new seam options while again trying to get the balance between red-ball development and white-ball separation. Woakes’s ability at the death, his new ball craft, and his temperament will not be easy to replicate. That being said, his decision to play on in county cricket and search for franchise opportunities means county fans and T20 leagues may still benefit from that crafty seam, and the occasional lower-order fireworks.
Chris Woakes departs with two World Cups, remarkable spells of bowling, and the memorable image of dedication in his final innings at The Oval. Retirement narratives are seldom tidy, and this one included injury, political selection, and proper farewells—a nice, messy conclusion to a wonderful career. At the end of the day, he left the field in the same way he played: team-first, self-effacing, and effective. So, raise your proverbial glass to the man who could bowl discipline, batter when required, and always place the team first — and tell us, what is the Woakes moment you will remember? Well done.
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