Chris Woakes has retired from international cricket, a fortnight after learning he would play no part in this winter’s Ashes tour.
The 36-year-old all-rounder, who debuted back in 2011 and finished with 62 Tests, 122 ODIs and 33 T20Is, confirmed the decision on Instagram late on Sunday. His last England act remains that brave – if slightly forlorn – walk to the Oval crease at No. 11 with his right arm in a sling, hoping to eke out enough runs for a series-clinching win that never quite arrived.
“The moment has come, and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket,” he wrote, before thanking family, team-mates, coaches and supporters in a lengthy post. The key lines are worth repeating in full.
“Playing for England was something I aspired to do since I 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.”
He added: “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.”
There was also a nod to the support network behind the scenes. “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.” It would not be Woakes without a word for the travelling faithful either: “To the fans, especially the Barmy Army, thank you for the passion, the cheers and the belief. To my coaches, team-mates 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.” A final line hints at fresh adventures: “I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future.”
Why now? A dislocated right shoulder, sustained on day one of that Oval Test against India, has done much of the talking. Rob Key, England men’s managing director, underlined the shift in selection thinking last week when he said Woakes “isn’t in our plans… at all”. For a player who has rarely enjoyed long injury-free spells, the writing was fairly clear.
Even so, his record holds up against most of his generation. 396 international wickets put him ninth on England’s all-format list – tucked between Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad. The white-ball figures are even starker: 173 ODI wickets at 30.01, fifth-best for an Englishman, plus a critical hand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final and final. He leaves with a batting average just shy of 28 in Tests, eight fifties and that Lord’s hundred against West Indies in 2017 that had the pavilion on its feet.
The Player-of-the-Series award in the 2023 Ashes, earned after England were two-nil behind, may well be the personal highlight. Injected at Headingley, he swung the ball round corners, kept the run-rate in check and found himself in the middle for the final winning runs. Asked afterwards about the late call-up, he shrugged: “That’s my role, mate – get ready, then stay ready.” It summed him up.
Ben Stokes paid tribute on Monday morning. “Woakesy is as good a bloke as he is a cricketer – and that’s saying something,” the England captain tweeted. “Never once complained about his role, always delivered. We’ll miss him massively.” Warwickshire’s director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, echoed the sentiment. “He’s the pro every coach hopes for – skill, humility, work-rate. The Bears shirt will still fit him nicely for a few more summers yet.”
Where does this leave England? Realistically, they had already pencilled in a future without him. Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran and Josh Tongue are all vying for the fourth-seamer-who-bats slot on the forthcoming tour. None, though, possess Woakes’ unusual blend of new-ball swing in home conditions and lower-order security. Finding that cocktail again is easier said than done.
Woakes himself seems content. County cricket with Warwickshire – he still speaks of Edgbaston as “home” – offers red-ball rhythm once the shoulder heals, while T20 leagues remain keen on reliable power-play bowlers who can clear the rope at No. 7. A stint in the Big Bash, perhaps a return to the IPL, now looks more straightforward without England contracts to juggle.
In the end, it is the understated manner that defines him. No grand farewell tour, just an Instagram post and a quiet nod to the future. A career built on control, consistency and an unflappable temperament bows out in much the same way. England move on; so does Chris Woakes. But that walk-on at the Oval – sling, smile, everything on the line – will sit long in the memory as the moment the crowd realised exactly how much he had already given.
