Chris Woakes recovers from injury, set to make a comeback

The England team has much to rejoice about, with Chris Woakes set to make a comeback in the upcoming Specsavers County Championship match. The all-rounder had been previously injured in the opening match against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy. Woakes had suffered from a side strain in the championship in the month of June and as a result had been out of action ever since.

In recent times, Woakes has emerged as one of the best all-rounders in the County circles. He’s also had several successful stints in the limited-overs formats for the national side and has gone on to claim 89 wickets in 63 ODIs, along with scoring 800 runs. The 28-year-old is set to make his comeback as a part of the Warwickshire team in their four-day match against Middlesex. The match begins on August 6th (Sunday).

Woakes to be given preference over Toby Roland-Jones

Although debutant pacer, Toby Roland-Jones bowled beautifully in the 3rd Test between England and South Africa at The Oval, picking up 5 wickets in the first innings, followed by 3 more in the second, preference is bound to be given to Woakes for inclusion in the England team. As fate would have it, Woakes took a long time to recover from the side strain; an injury that has commonly troubled fast bowlers.

The national team selectors will maintain a keen scrutiny on Woakes during the County match, in order to assess his fitness and agility. If he does manage to perform well and keep himself from getting injured again, Woakes is inevitably going to be one of the first picks for England’s first Test against the West Indies, which is going to be a day-night Test match at Edgbaston, beginning on August 16.

England have a gruelling schedule of nine Test matches in the upcoming seven weeks and will be in dire need of someone like Woakes, Jake Ball and Steven Finn, in order to take the pressure off their frontline bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad.