Impressive Chris Woakes set for Pakistan Test as England seek cover for Jimmy Anderson

Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal
JON SUPER/AFP/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse26 June 2016

Chris Woakes is becoming an important man for England in all forms of cricket but his greatest challenge is likely to come next month.

Woakes continued his improvement with three for 34 against Sri Lanka in the third one-day international at Bristol. Replying to the tourists’ 248 for nine, England reached 16 for one before rain ensured no further play would be possible.

The aborted match means England lead the five-match series 1-0 heading for the fourth game at The Kia Oval on Wednesday.

Woakes’ effort was impressive. Yet with Jimmy Anderson likely to miss at least the First Investec Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, which starts on July 14, Woakes may be asked to step into the biggest shoes of them all.

Anderson is England’s leading wicket-taker in Test history, with 454 victims to his name. His new-ball partnership with Stuart Broad is one of the most potent England have had.

Can Woakes step up to the mark? At the start of the summer, it seemed highly unlikely. Woakes had struggled to break through since his international debut in January 2011, and seemed destined to be a nearly man for England.

Then the Warwickshire player was brought in for the injured Ben Stokes for the final two Tests of the series against Sri Lanka, and bowled with menace and control. He has generally maintained that during the 50-over matches, underpinning England’s effort with some more smart work today.

Woakes used the short ball wisely. It drew false shots from Dinesh Chandimal and Farveez Maharoof that brought wickets. Woakes actually removed Maharoof and Upul Tharanga with consecutive balls, meaning his first delivery at The Oval will be a hat-trick ball.

His most significant work will, however, come at Lord’s next month, if Anderson is absent. Woakes showed enough against Sri Lanka to suggest he can also prosper against Pakistan, even if their batsmen have more experience of these conditions that Sri Lanka’s callow group.

If he performs well, it will provide huge encouragement for England. Anderson will be 34 on July 30 and though he insists he can carry on for some time, it would be prudent for England to think about his replacement. With every performance, Woakes is suggesting that he can be that man.

He was well-supported today by Liam Plunkett – another contender – who claimed three for 46. Chandimal (62), captain Angelo Mathews (56) and Kusal Mendis (53) all laid the platform for a big score, only to lose their wickets when they seemed to ready to launch a definitive assault.

England made an uncertain start, with Alex Hales out for a first-ball duck from the third delivery of the match. Hales – who made an unbeaten century in England’s 10-wicket triumph at Edgbaston last Friday – chased a wide one from Suranga Lakmal and was caught behind.

Jason Roy and Joe Root took the score to 16 for one, when the rain came. They never returned, meaning the series remains all to play for. As for Woakes, who can blame him if his mind has already turned to Lord’s?

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