At 35, Chris Woakes has suddenly become the senior figure in England's bowling lineup. In successive home Tests, at The Oval in 2023 and Lord's this week, he witnessed Stuart Broad and then James Anderson bid farewell, leaving him as the experienced mentor for a new generation of England seamers as they prepare for the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge next week.
Reflecting on Anderson’s retirement at Lord's, Woakes admitted it made him feel quite old, but also privileged to be part of Anderson’s final game. He remarked that playing alongside Anderson for so long had significantly enhanced his own skills, particularly in understanding conditions and perfecting deliveries like the wobble-ball, a technique he learned from Anderson.
Woakes is set to make his 50th Test appearance at Trent Bridge and anticipates, perhaps for the first time in his career, having the first choice of ends. However, he joked that he hadn’t really considered this perk of seniority, noting that it didn’t matter much at Lord's since Anderson preferred the Pavilion End while he favoured the Nursery End.
On the field, Woakes doesn’t plan to change his approach but recognises he might need to adapt slightly, especially if given the new ball—a role he usually hasn't played, typically coming in as the first-change bowler. He accentuated his commitment to giving 100% and performing his role effectively for the team, as well as sharing his experience with newer players.
Off the field, the transition won’t be as dramatic since Anderson will continue in a mentoring role for the remainder of the West Indies series, potentially making this position permanent if it suits his career plans.