England all-rounder Chris Woakes had pulled out of the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League ahead of the auction earlier in the year. The 34-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder says that the switch from Test cricket to T20 cricket was a difficult one and that he had to prioritise playing the Ashes later in the year.
Woakes, who used to be mostly active in Test cricket, aside from a few appearances in ODIs, said that he withdrew from the IPL 2023 auction to prepare for the Ashes and give himself the best chance to make it to England's playing XI.
Woakes hasn't been a part of the England Test teams in recent times with the experienced duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad helming the pace attack and the likes of Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood going ahead of Woakes in the pecking order.
Why Woakes Pulled Out of the IPL 2023 Auction
“There were a lot of factors. One, my body whenever I have come back from the IPL before, I don't feel I have come back in the best shape going into a Test summer,” Woakes said on the Daily Mail.
“For me personally that jump from T20 to Test cricket is quite a big jump. I have always found that transition quite hard.
Woakes hasn't played Test cricket since England's golden time under Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum began. The all-rounder hasn't been in the scheme of things since England switched their ideologies in the longest format and adopted an aggressive approach with the bat, one that has been dubbed ‘Bazball'.
The Challenge for Woakes
“I haven't played Test cricket for a year, so I feel like I would need some overs under my belt to have the chance to knock on the door for selection in what is a tough team to get back into at the minute. That is a big part of it.”
The seamer still has time to push for a spot ahead of the Ashes that begins on June 16.
“I would love to be a part of it and I still feel my record in England stands up against anyone's. If I can get myself ‘red-ball fit' and firing and bowling well, I'd like to think I'd be in the mix,' Woakes said.
However, he said that he understands that it will be tough to break into a team that is winning with bowlers putting up good performances.
“But it's a tough side to get into and there are guys bowling extremely well. I recognise that and have an opportunity at the start of the season to put in some performances.”
