Chris Woakes: ‘Yes, I need to get better away from home. But my home record is bloody good’

New leader of England’s Test attack is ready for the challenge of Pakistan after show of faith from Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes

“It was after the Oval Test and Baz came over and said: ‘You’re in. You’ve had a great summer in terms of stepping up to lead the attack and I want your experience. I feel you can have a really positive impact on the other players, on and off the field. I can’t guarantee selection but we want you to fulfil that role for us this winter.’”

With that, Chris Woakes was folding up his England whites and popping them in the suitcase for the first time in two and a half years. Destination? Multan, for the three-Test series against Pakistan that begins on Monday. The mission? A series win, naturally. But, on a personal level, a correction to the numbers and narrative that make this return to life on the road a very Brendon McCullum selection.

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The five county cricketers of the year

A player can only make the list once. View the previous winners: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017

By Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket Blog

The Australian (with a British passport, so watch this space) conforms to the template of an English seamer. Even his curved run up is old-school, helping to get the shoulder turn and slightly round-arm action that promotes the outswing that leads to nibble after nibble after nibble.

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