Chris Woakes, the England allrounder, has decided to retire from international cricket, ending a remarkable 15-year career playing across all three formats for his country.
England’s Allrounder Chris Woakes Announces International Retirement
Chris Woakes was left out of England’s Ashes squad last week after struggling to regain fitness following a shoulder dislocation in the fifth Test against India at the end of July. Rob Key, England Men’s managing director, said Chris Woakes “isn’t in our plans… at all.” Following that, Woakes made the decision to step away from international cricket, sharing the news in a statement on Instagram.
His final appearance in an England shirt came in a dramatic moment at The Oval, where he walked out to bat at No. 11 with his arm in a sling, trying to help secure a series-winning victory on the fifth day.
Reflecting on a Dream Come True
Chris Woakes said, “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.
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“Making my debut in 2011 in Australia seems like yesterday, but time flies when you’re having fun. 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.
“To my Mum and Dad, my wife Amie and our girls Laila and Evie, thank you for your unwavering love, support and sacrifices over the years. None of this would have been possible without you.
“To the fans, especially the Barmy Army, thank you for the passion, the cheers and the belief. To my coaches, team-mates and everyone behind the scenes both with England and Warwickshire, who helped me play for my country – your guidance and friendship has meant the world.
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“I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future.”
Key Moments of a Stellar Career
A double World Cup-winner, Chris Woakes played a crucial role in England’s successes over the years. He was named Player of the Series during the 2023 Ashes, helping England come back from 2-0 down to secure a draw after returning to the side midway through the series.
However, his place on the 2025-26 tour was uncertain after injuring his shoulder on day one at The Oval. Over his career, he took 396 wickets across formats, ranking eighth on England’s all-time list. He was especially influential in ODIs, leading the attack during the 2019 World Cup and finishing with 173 wickets at 30.01, the fifth-most by an Englishman.
From Breakthrough to Big Matches
Chris Woakes made his debut in the 2010-11 Australia tour, playing two T20Is and three ODIs. In his second ODI at Brisbane, he earned Player of the Match after taking 6 for 45, which was England Men’s second-best ODI figures at the time.
His Test debut came at The Oval in the 2013 Ashes, the same ground where he would play his final game. For much of his career, he waited for opportunities behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad, though he ended up with a better average than both in English conditions.
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A breakthrough came in 2016 when he took 34 wickets at 17.20 in six Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He scored his only Test hundred in 2018 against India at Lord’s, by then the senior new-ball bowler in the ODI side.
World Cups and White-Ball Heroics
Chris Woakes’ performances in the 2019 World Cup were pivotal, including a standout 3 for 20 in the semi-final against Australia. Two years later, his white-ball expertise earned him a return to the T20I side, helping England lift another World Cup in Australia in 2022.
In recent years, following Broad and Anderson’s retirements, Woakes led England’s Test attack, with 2024 being his second-most successful calendar year with 32 wickets at 24.09. This summer, though, he struggled against India, taking 11 wickets in five Tests before a boundary-fielding slip left him sidelined—until his dramatic reappearance at The Oval with his arm in a sling.
Tributes from the ECB and Team
ECB chair Richard Thompson said, “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. There are so many special memories, from brilliance with the new ball in the 2019 World Cup and winning the T20 World Cup in 2022 to his series-changing impact in the 2023 Men’s Ashes which earned him the player of the series honour.”
“We are indebted to have players like Chris represent England and I want to thank and congratulate him for everything he has done in an England shirt for the past 14 years.”
Rob Key added, “Chris Woakes is one of the finest people to have played the game. An extraordinary career carved out alongside two of England’s greatest ever bowlers. A man who helped every team he played in, even before he walked onto the field.”
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