After England announced their controversial decision to drop all-time leading wicket takers James Anderson and Stuart Broad for their tour of the West Indies, interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss spoke of it being an opportunity for other experienced bowlers to take on a "senior leadership role".
As the most experienced of England's seamers, Chris Woakes was given the task of leading England's attack. However, the 33-year-old's struggles away from home - he averages more than 50 with the ball overseas - have continued in the Caribbean
Despite an impressive seven-over spell after lunch on day two of the third Test which saw him take 3-21, Woakes has managed just five wickets at 46.20 in the series so far. As a result, former England coach David Lloyd has suggested Woakes may never play another Test match away from home.
"Everybody would tell you he is the nicest bloke in cricket," Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. "But I would still say this is his swansong overseas because of the queue of quicker bowlers."
And Woakes has given a candid assessment of his struggles as the leader of the attack, admitting he has been unable to step up in the absence of Anderson and Broad. "It was a good opportunity and I probably haven't taken it as I'd have liked," he said.
"It's been a tough tour from that point of view, we haven't taken wickets with the new ball. 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. To pick up three today was really nice, because I'll always try to do a job for the team.
"It would be nice to be able to do that a little bit more often, but it just hasn't happened. It would be nice to be five, six, seven miles-per-hour quicker, but the first two games were pretty flat and not nice to bowl on for anyone."
Woakes' struggles come immediately after another poor showing in the recent Ashes series. He was England's least successful frontline seamer against Australia, taking just six wickets at an average of 55.33.
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