England all-rounder Chris Woakes calls time on international career after Ashes omission

‌England all-rounder Chris Woakes called time on his international career on Monday after being left out of the squad for the upcoming Ashes series. Woakes made his debut for the Three Lions in a T20I match against Australia in January 2011 before making his bow in the other two formats, against the same opponents.

In an era dominated by the pace-bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the medium pacer represented England in 62 Tests, picking up 192 wickets at an average of 29.61 and a strike rate of 58.4. He was also handy with the bat lower down the order, accumulating 2034 runs, including a century and seven fifties, at an average of 25.11.

The Warwickshire all-rounder was part of the ODI setup when England won their inaugural World Cup in 2019, recording 16 scalps in 11 games. His ODI career spanned 122 games, with a tally of 173 wickets and 1524 runs coming off them.

He won his second world title with the side after England beat Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. He has featured in 33 T20Is, picking up 31 wickets at an average of 26.51 and a strike rate of 19.7.

"The moment has come, and I've decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket," he said.

"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.

"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. I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future."

Woakes would forever be remembered for his final appearance against India in the fifth Test at The Oval last month, where he walked out to bat with his left arm wrapped in a sling. The all-rounder dislocated his shoulder earlier in the match while fielding, but walked in to bat with his side 17 runs away from a series victory. Though the home side fell short by six runs, his valiant effort to take the field and bat with one hand won hearts across the cricketing world.

ECB chair, Richard Thompson, said: "The images of Chris walking out to bat with his arm in a sling to try and win a Test match this summer reflected how much he cared about playing for his country and being the best team-mate he could be. We are indebted to have players like Chris represent England and I want to thank and congratulate him for everything he has done in an England shirt for the past 14 years."

"Chris Woakes is one of the finest people to have played the game. An extraordinary career carved out alongside two of England's greatest ever bowlers. A man who helped every team he played in, even before he walked onto the field," Rob Key, Managing Director of the England Men’s team, added.