Chris Woakes has admitted he feared his Test career might have been over after returning to the England squad.
A combination of injuries and the emergence of younger, talented bowlers pushed Woakes down the pecking order as he was forced to watch the Bazball revolution from his sofa rather than being a part of it.
Woakes has not played a Test match in 15 months, and he hasn’t played one at home for nearly three years, which left him to wonder whether the left knee injury that ruined his summer last year might also end up ruining his career.
“I suppose those sort of doubts do run through your mind a little bit,” he said following his recovery from knee surgery. “I suppose that's just part and parcel of professional sport. Whether it be form or injury or whatever it is, there’s always someone knocking on the door, younger players ready to come in.
“Last summer was quite a tough summer for me personally. Missing out, not just on England but all cricket, so that was quite hard to take. So when Brendon did ring me it felt, not like the first call-up, but it always means a lot and great to be back amongst it.
“I think you’re always hungry to play for England. You know, I think going through the bad times like last summer, where you’re desperate to play but you can't because your body won’t let you, does remind you that you’ve got to enjoy the time while you’re playing.
“You've got to make the most of it whilst it’s there and the fact that I'm stood here now is an amazing feeling, to be back in England colours, and I'm ready to give it my all.”
With Ireland the opposition back at the home of cricket this week, Woakes has happy memories of his 6-17 second innings performance four years ago and was keen to create some more.
He has a remarkable record at Lord’s claiming three of his four five wicket hauls there and scoring his only Test hundred to date at the famous old ground. But he knows he has a tough job ahead of him to break into the team for the Ashes that follows where he is desperate to make up for the previous edition Down Under.
“It’d be amazing to win the Ashes again,” he added. “We know that Ashes cricket is still the pinnacle. You only need to look at the build up to see how it is hyped up a lot more and that is because it is the pinnacle for English and Australian players. It brings that added pressure but it is what you play the game for and that is where you want to be. Winning an Ashes series is what it is all about.
“It is a good crop of bowlers we have and that is a good thing for the team because you will need that depth to your bowling attack. We will need to rotate at times across a big series such as this and you need guys to step up at different times.
“There have been a couple of niggles around, so we’re going to need that pool of fast bowlers to tap into. I'll be ready if required and putting myself in the mix to get the nod.”
