England all-rounder Chris Woakes has on Thursday (March 25) made it clear that he would miss the first Test of the two-match Test series against New Zealand starting June 2 at Lord’s if Delhi Capitals qualifies for the upcoming IPL 2021 final in May 2021 in India.
Woakes was retained by the Delhi Capitals despite him pulling out of the IPL 2020 due to family reasons and he is eager to repay the faith has shown by the franchise in him in the upcoming 14th edition of the T20 league starting April 9. He will join his DC teammates in Mumbai on Sunday (March 27).
The all-rounder was named in England’s Test squad for the recent Test series in India but went home after the third Test as part of the team's rotation policy without playing a single game.
However, Woakes plays ODI cricket for England but isn’t part of the national T20I squad since 2015 and he doesn’t want to miss the golden opportunity to play in the IPL 14, saying such “opportunities” won't come easy in his quest to be selected for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 later this year in India.
Woakes told The Guardian: “If I'm not in the Delhi XI, I'll speak to Ricky (Ponting, DC head coach) and the powers-that-be. Of course, I want to play at Lord's, my record there (27 wickets at 11 runs apiece, a career-best 137 with the bat) speaks for itself. But those Tests were arranged late.”
The 32-year-old further added, “England wants us to broaden our horizons in the IPL and, at this stage of my career, these opportunities won't keep coming up. If it means missing a Test, that unfortunately might be the case. The players are in an awkward position, though. This summer is big, especially with a Test series against India to follow in August.”
He further said the DC has been loyal to him and now his turn to repay the faith shown by the franchise in the upcoming IPL 2021 while saying he is honing his death bowling skills as well as working on his power-hitting to remind England what he can do ahead of T20 World Cup.
The all-rounder continued, “Delhi has been loyal to me and I want to repay that. It's my third season in the IPL overall (after spells with Kolkata and Bangalore) and I always come back a better cricketer.
I don't want to rule out the T20 World Cup at all, I still see myself as a three-format cricketer. I'm looking to work on my variations, death bowling, and explore some power-hitting options. Hopefully, I can give Morgs (Captain Eoin Morgan) and England a reminder of what I can do.”
On missing to play against India in the Test series, Woakes said: “In India, the balance of the team with two spinners made it tricky. But missing the pink-ball Test was a bit of a kick in the teeth.”
He signed off by saying, “Four seamers and I still didn't get a look-in. That just about summed up my winter, really. And I feel I made strides in my last few Tests overseas. It's easy to get pigeonholed but I know I've improved here.”
