Chris Woakes expressed regret that this winter he “probably hasn’t taken” the opportunity to pick up more wickets in overseas conditions for England.
Woakes took three wickets on the second afternoon in Grenada, but West Indies have a lead of 28 at stumps with two first innings wickets in hand.
That took Woakes to five wickets at 44 in a series that he was the anointed leader of the attack in the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
That followed a tour of Australia in which he took six wickets at 55 in three Tests, which continues a theme of struggles overseas, compared to an outstanding record in England.
Woakes joked that “it would be nice to be 5, 6, 7mph quicker” on the sort of surfaces England have encountered this winter, but made no excuses for his returns.
“You’ve got what’s in front of you, going away from home bowling in most conditions is quite tricky,” he said. “I don’t see it as a shame that the surfaces are like they have been. The previous two in particular.
“It was a good opportunity and I probably haven’t taken it as I’d have liked but it’s not through a lack of effort, I’ve constantly been trying to improve, it just hasn’t worked.
“Obviously I would have loved to have taken more wickets, but it hasn’t happened. The most important thing is trying to do a job for the team and whilst I’m still selected I will continue to do that.
“It’s certainly not through lack of effort and to pick up three today was really nice. I always try to do a job for the team. That was quite an important spell after lunch, getting their middle order out. It’s the sort of wicket, with the ball getting softer that they could have cashed in after lunch.”
Josh da Silva, who made the first half-century of the match, from No8 for West Indies, believes conditions will deteriorate but batting conditions are good now.
“The odd one is staying low but it’s still a very good batting wicket,” he said.
“It seems like a straight wicket, a wicket to bowl straight with the new ball and can get our slips involved. And back of a length at the top end of the pitch is staying a bit low, so just work your bowlers as much as you can.”
