After completing his 20th professional season, Chris Woakes finds himself reflecting on the guidance he received as a 17-year-old entering the demanding world of professional cricket. He notes that the core advice from his parents—particularly his father—was always to remain true to himself, a philosophy that served him well throughout his career. Over the course of his journey, Woakes achieved significant success, including 62 Test appearances, 192 wickets, 2,034 runs, and two World Cup victories. According to o n a rainy October afternoon, after his 20th season as a professional cricketer, Chris Woakes sits down at Edgbaston’s indoor nets and thinks of the advice that helped him when he was 17 and about to start a career in this consuming sport. “The words came from my parents, particularly my dad, and it was to always be myself,” he, In his thoughtful way. Taking 192 wickets and scoring 2,034 runs, woakes has just won his third County Championship with Warwickshire and he played 62 Tests for England. From Andy Flower to Brendon McCullum, and played for captains as different as Sir Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root and Ben Stokes, he also won two World Cups and experienced a range of England coaches. But it’s a reductive view that obscures the skill and tenacity that defines him. “Ask some batters over the years and I’m sure they said: ‘He isn’t that nice, woakes is routinely described as the nicest man in cricket. So there was certainly some fear in the cauldron.
Despite his reputation as one of cricket’s kindest figures, Woakes argues that such labels overlook the necessary ruthlessness required to succeed at the highest level. He notes that many batters he faced would likely disagree with the soft assessment, emphasizing that once the game begins, maintaining a competitive edge is essential to securing wins. During his time on the pitch, he learned that deviating from his natural character usually proved counterproductive. Woakes has been a positive and steadying presence in a tumultuous time for English cricket. “There were a couple of occasions where I stepped outside my character and tried to be something else and it backfired. And the way I did it, was the way forward, i quickly learned that what I had. You need to find a way to compete and win.”, once you cross the line. How did he feel as he stepped on to the field? “I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous because I was going into the unknown. Because in international arena it’s dog eat dog, was he scared? “Absolutely. So I was going to have to wear a few, it would be stumps or head. Your brain naturally tells you: ‘I don’t want to do this.
His new autobiography, *The Wizard*, chronicles his long career and the evolution of the sport. The narrative begins with his final Test appearance last August. During that match, with his left arm in a sling after a fielding injury, he walked out as the final batter at the Oval, hoping to help England secure a 3-1 series victory against India. Describing the moment, Woakes admits it was a bittersweet farewell, feeling both honored by the crowd’s ovation and saddened by the pain of his injury. On the bizarre morning last August when Woakes came in at No 11, with his damaged left arm in a sling, to try to help England score the 17 runs that would secure a 3-1 seri, the book opens with his ending in Test cricket. Where he had made his Test debut 12 years earlier, while typically putting the interests of the team first, there was a fitting symmetry as Woakes walked down the stairs at the Oval. “It was amazing to go out like that but, in another way, quite sad,” he says. “To walk out in front of a full house, and get a standing ovation, was maybe meant to be my farewell. The Wizard, his fine new autobiography, has been written with Ali Martin, who captures Woakes’s voice expertly while providing trenchant insights into the contrasting eras that span his long career. Woakes had dislocated his shoulder while fielding and could hold the bat only with one hand. The pain became excruciating when he tried to run and he knew India’s bowlers would show no mercy at the climax of a riveting series. But there’s no worse feeling, especially as a bowler, when you leave the team handicapped: 10 v 11, i had the agony of the shoulder.
The experience of entering the field in such a compromised state was nerve-wracking. Woakes acknowledges that at 90mph, a cricket ball presents a genuine physical threat even when a player is fully fit, making the prospect of batting with one arm particularly daunting. While he understood the inherent risks, the team’s precarious position fueled his resolve. Ultimately, his partner Gus Atkinson was dismissed before Woakes could face a delivery, leaving him with a sense of regret that he could not contribute directly to the chase. It was a challenge to build up the courage to face that.”.
Woakes expresses clear disappointment regarding how his separation from the England squad was handled. While he accepts that he was not selected for the previous Ashes tour and that his contract was terminated, the public nature of the announcement by England team director Rob Key caused him genuine hurt. Specifically, Key’s public statement that Woakes was not part of the team’s plans felt unnecessary to the player, who felt a private conversation would have been more professional.
Regarding his relationship with Key, Woakes notes that they have barely communicated since the incident. He acknowledges that professional sports often lack long-term loyalty and that Key likely had other priorities at the time. Despite his frustration, he remains composed, noting that his focus has shifted as he moves into new chapters of his career.
The broader context of English cricket during this period included internal tensions, particularly surrounding the Ashes series against Australia. The performance was marked by poor results and off-field incidents involving players like Harry Brook and Ben Duckett, which increased scrutiny on the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. Following the series, McCullum transitioned to focus solely on the white-ball side, while Stokes eventually stepped away from his role. But I had quite a bit of dog in me which I didn’t show verbally, i’m relatively reserved.
Woakes reflects on Stokes’s deep desire to win the Ashes, noting that the intensity of the tour likely weighed heavily on the captain, who eventually struggled to maintain the necessary energy levels to continue. Having seen Stokes at Trent Bridge as his career wound down, Woakes expressed his support for his former teammate.
Outside of match play, Woakes maintains a disciplined approach to his personal life. While he enjoys the camaraderie of a post-match beer, he remains mindful of his consumption. Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, he notably abstained from alcohol entirely as part of his preparation, demonstrating the level of commitment he brought to the team.
Looking ahead, Woakes is widely viewed as a natural fit for cricket broadcasting. He has expressed interest in roles on platforms like Sky, and there is even talk of him potentially introducing the first day of the Ashes at Trent Bridge next summer, marking a transition from the field to the commentary box.
