All-rounder Chris Woakes said that England took a fair call on leaving him out of the upcoming five-Test tour of India in 2024. England recently named a 16-member squad for the tour, including three uncapped players.
Chris Woakes has done well in home conditions, boasting a bowling average of 21.88 but it balloons to 51.88 overseas. In the three Tests in India in 2016, Woakes managed only three wickets for 81.3.
"It's mixed emotions. Whenever there's a Test squad announcement, you're always desperate to be in it. But at the same time, at my age, with my away record - particularly in the subcontinent - I feel like it's a fair decision,” Woakes was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"We had conversations about where my best cricket is likely to be played moving forward and naturally in Test cricket, it looks likely to be at home. It doesn't mean to say that when there's not subcontinent tours that I won't be available. But I feel at ease with the decision, if that makes sense. The communication was good, I know where I stand so it's fine by me,” he added.
The last time Woakes played a Test series away from home, it was in the absence of veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Woakes could manage only five scalps in three Tests at an average of 48.80.
"I tried to bowl my heart out and really struggled with my body. My knee was sore at the time, I ended up having surgery after that and I missed six months of cricket. I wouldn't want that to be the same case going to India, bowling on tracks which are unresponsive to my type of bowling; slamming the front knee down at 34 is not ideal when I want to play a lot of white-ball cricket moving forward.
It's different when that's just your sole focus but when you want to play all forms, it makes it a wise decision,” Woakes added.
Woakes had played a vital role as England fought back from 0-2 to draw the Ashes 2-2 earlier this year. The pacer was adjudged the player of the series during the Ashes earlier this year.
(PTI inputs)
