Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a 15-year England career that included two World Cup triumphs and a notable Test legacy. The 36-year-old fast bowler, who had hoped to secure a place on this winter's Ashes tour, was ruled out by a dislocated shoulder sustained during the fifth Test against India this summer.
With his central contract not renewed by England this month, Woakes opted against pursuing a recall in 2026 and will continue playing domestically. In a statement on Monday, he said: '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.'
Woakes retires with 192 Test wickets from 62 matches, including a place on all three Lord's honours boards, and a Compton-Miller Medal from the 2023 Ashes. In white-ball cricket, he took 204 wickets across 155 appearances, playing key roles in England's 2019 50-over World Cup win and the 2022 T20 World Cup victory.
His Test success was particularly pronounced at home, where he claimed 148 wickets at an average of 23.47, better than both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. His strike-rate of 47 on English soil is surpassed only by Fred Trueman and Bob Willis among past greats. Woakes also averaged 25 with the bat, including a career-best 137 not out against India in 2018.
Woakes, a one-club man for Warwickshire, is in talks over a new county contract and may feature in franchise T20 cricket this winter after opting against shoulder surgery.
