Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing a close to his nearly 15-year England career at the age of 36. He departs with an exceptional home Test record, over 192 Test wickets, and a legacy of clutch performances in white-ball cricket, having played an integral role in two of England’s greatest successes.

England’s all-rounder Chris Woakes announces his retirement from international cricket

The universally respected all-rounder, Woakes, whose international tenure yielded two World Cup triumphs, cited the timing of his career, a dislocated shoulder injury, and the non-renewal of his central contract as factors in his decision. The news was confirmed with a heartfelt statement from the man known to teammates as ‘ The Wizard,’ who expressed profound pride in his time representing his country.

“The moment has come and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket. 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,” Woakes said.

Woakes’ the home specialist and test legacy

Woakes cemented his status as one of England’s most potent seam bowlers in home conditions, where his Test bowling average of 23.47 across 148 wickets is exceptionally low, even surpassing the career averages of legendary bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad in England. This mastery of the Dukes ball and England pitches was most famously exhibited at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, where he became one of only ten players in history to secure a spot on all three honours boards: achieving a century (137 not out vs India, 2018), a five-wicket haul, and a ten-wicket match (11/102 vs Pakistan, 2016).

Woakes’ Test career reached a glorious peak in the 2023 Ashes, where he entered the series with England 2−0 down and delivered a series-changing performance, taking 19 wickets to secure a 2−2 draw and earning the prestigious Compton-Miller Medal as the Player of the Series. His overall Test record includes 192 wickets, five five-wicket hauls, and seven half-centuries, testament to his value as a genuine all-rounder, particularly at number eight.

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White-ball triumphs and clutch performer for England

Woakes was a cornerstone of England’s revolutionary white-ball era under Eoin Morgan, playing an instrumental role in securing both the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup. In the 2019 campaign, he was the attack leader and delivered one of his most memorable performances by taking three key wickets in the semi-final victory against Australia, earning him the Player of the Match award.

Woakes 50-over career, which saw him claim 173 wickets from 122 matches, was characterized by his exceptional ability to deliver a consistent line and length, particularly with the new ball, making him a reliable powerplay operator. He was one of only five players to feature in the playing XI for both the 2019 and 2022 World Cup final victories.

Following the announcement, ECB Chair Richard Thompson paid tribute to his character and impact, saying: “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. He has been a gentleman off the field, with the skills and fierce determination to win on it, regularly rising to the occasion on the biggest stage with bat as well as ball,”

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