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| Chris Woakes |
England’s seasoned all-rounder
Chris Woakes has made a triumphant return to competitive cricket,
marking his comeback with a stellar performance for England Lions
against India A in Northampton. After a five-month injury layoff,
Woakes proved he still has the magic with the new ball, picking up three key
wickets—Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Karun Nair, all
dismissed LBW.
With the five-Test
Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy kicking off on June 20, Woakes has been named
in England's 14-man squad, ready to take on an Indian side that is entering
a new era—one without the legendary Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,
who retired from Test cricket last month.
End of an Era, But India Still a Strong Force
Woakes, who has had intense
battles with Kohli and Rohit over the years, admitted that their absence
is a big moment for Test cricket but doesn’t expect India to be any
easier to beat.
"Had some good battles
with Virat and Rohit over the years. For the game itself, it is a shame they
won't be there. But Indian cricket has so much depth that players who come in
will be of very high standard," Woakes told ESPNcricinfo.
India’s selectors have called
upon fresh talent, including Sai Sudharsan, making his Test debut,
and Karun Nair, returning after an eight-year absence. With a
rich bench strength, Woakes believes the competition will remain intense.
Dominating India A & Eyeing the Big Series
Woakes showed his home
conditions mastery once again, dismantling Indian batters in Northampton
while KL Rahul anchored India A’s innings with a classy 116.
"KL played really well,
good hundred, on a wicket which did a little bit all day. There were periods
where it was a bit quiet, but it was doing something for most of the day," he said, happy with his 17-over workload ahead of the series.
With both teams kicking off
their 2025-27 World Test Championship cycles, the stakes are high.
England may miss their own veterans, but with Woakes back in rhythm and
India embracing the next generation, this series promises to be a
hard-fought battle.
📢 What are your thoughts on the upcoming India vs
England Test series? Can India fill the Kohli-Rohit void, or will England
capitalize on the transition? Let’s discuss! 👇
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