Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on a near 15-year career at the top level for England.
Just days after being overlooked for England’s upcoming Ashes series in Australia, Woakes has decided to call time on his international career. The 36-year-old is nursing a shoulder injury, which ruled him out of selection contention.
“The moment has come, and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket,” said Woakes in a statement on Monday. “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.”
Woakes retires with 396 wickets in 217 international appearances. Of those, 192 wickets came with the red-ball in 62 Tests. In the 2023 Ashes, he was named Player of the Series. A member of both the 2019 and 2022 World Cup-winning squads, the right-arm seamer claimed 204 wickets from 155 white-ball matches.
Woakes continued: “Making my one-day international 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 family — 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.”
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