Chris Woakes:Back to international cricket
England cricketer Chris Woakes has revealed that his recent absence from international cricket is due to the death of his father. “The last month has been the most challenging of my life when unfortunately my Dad passed away at the beginning of May,” he posted on his Instagram story on Saturday.
“I’ve spent the last few weeks with the people most important to me, my family. We’re all obviously grieving and trying to get through what is undoubtedly the hardest moments in our lives,” he added.
Woakes mentioned that he would return to playing cricket for Warwickshire, a team his father loved dearly, when the time is right for him and his family.
The 35-year-old did not play for the Punjab Kings in the recent Indian Premier League and was also excluded from England’s squad for this month’s Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies.
Woakes, a member of England’s T20 and one-day international World Cup-winning teams, has played 48 Tests, 122 ODIs, and 33 T20Is, taking 353 international wickets.
Despite missing a high-quality all-rounder like Woakes, England has a well-rounded squad. The team is respected not only for its innovative bowling and big-hitting but also for its sportsmanship and composure, which is why their victories are widely accepted.
England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup includes Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, and Mark Wood.
England World Cup Schedule:
June 4: England vs. Scotland, Barbados – 08:00 PM IST (10:30 AM Local)
June 8: Australia vs. England, Barbados – 10:30 PM IST (01:00 PM Local)
June 13: England vs. Oman, Antigua – 12:30 AM IST (June 14) (03:00 PM Local)
