Chris Stocks catches up with Chris Woakes, as the England and Warwickshire all-rounder eyes up a World Cup and Ashes double
Ahead of a summer that includes a homeWorld Cup and Ashes series, it may be unrealistic to think England can win both. Yet try telling that to Chris Woakes.
The Warwickshire bowler was this week named in England’s initial 15-man World Cup squad and is a likely candidate to play against Australia in the Ashes as well given he averages 46.69 with the bat and 23.33 with the ball in home Tests.
It’s no wonder he’s looking ahead with optimism then, especially as England enter the World Cup ranked number one in the world in white-ball, and have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001.
“Of course you can dream of winning both,” said Woakes. “That is literally the dream and I think to have that opportunity in one summer is quite rare and special. I just hope we can pull it off.”
England’s first task will be to live up to their favourites’ tag at the World Cup – a tournament they have never won in 11 previous attempts.
History, though, is there for the taking for a team led by captain Eoin Morgan who are unbeaten in their past 10 ODI series. A one-off encounter against Ireland in Dublin early next month and a five-match series against Pakistan await before England open the tournament against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.
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