Ever-Dependable Woakes Is Eoin's All - Round Mr Perfect

Derek Pringle looks at the vital, if not understated, role that fast bowler Chris Woakes has played in getting England to the World Cup final

England were most peoples’ favourites to win this World Cup on the back of their status as the No 1 ranked 50-over team in the world.

Yet, if anything, that position has strengthened as they prepare to play New Zealand in the final at Lord’s, following improvements to their bowling in the last third of the tournament.

Coming into this World Cup, England’s bowling attack leaked more runs per over than any of the top eight sides. In truth, the bowling had often been carried by the exceptional batting of Eoin Morgan’s team.

But while liability is too strong a word, it’s recent improvement has been a vital factor in the team’s last three crushing wins over India, New Zealand and Australia.

The addition of Jofra Archer with his pace, bounce and accuracy has brought an extra dimension but Chris Woakes, his new ball partner, and someone for whom today’s final will be his 99th one-day cap for England, has also contributed to the raised performances.

Largely unsung, Woakes is not an obvious choice as opening bowler – not when Mark Wood, a 90mph snarler, is gnawing the furniture in the same dressing-room. But pace does not always equate to pressure and Woakes, 85-88mph but with the ability to hit an awkward length and line with great frequency while landing the ball on the seam, has been rewarded with eight wickets in the last four matches.

Not only that, his economy rate in those games has been 4.7, which is excellent when you bowl at the start and the end of an innings as he does most of the time.