NEW DELHI: Pacer Chris Woakes acknowledged that, considering his track record on the subcontinent, England made the right decision in benching him for the Test series against India.
34-year-old Woakes expressed his satisfaction with the decision to leave him out of England's 16-man squad for the five-match Test series, which begins in Hyderabad on January 25.
"It's mixed emotions," Woakes was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'.
"Whenever there's a Test squad announcement, you're always desperate to be in it. But at the same time, at my age, with my away record - particularly in the subcontinent - I feel like it's a fair decision," he added.
Woakes has excelled at home, with a bowling average of 21.88, but when playing abroad, that figure soars to 51.88. Woakes took just three wickets at an 81.3 cost during the three Test matches played in India in 2016.
"We had conversations about where my best cricket is likely to be played moving forward and naturally in Test cricket, it looks likely to be at home.
"It doesn't mean to say that when there's not subcontinent tours that I won't be available. But I feel at ease with the decision, if that makes sense. The communication was good, I know where I stand so it's fine by me."
It didn't go well the last time Woakes played an away Test series. Woakes was asked to open the bowling in absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, two veteran players. However, in three Tests, he could only muster five scalps at an average of 48.80.
"I tried to bowl my heart out and really struggled with my body. My knee was sore at the time, I ended up having surgery after that and I missed six months of cricket."
Test omission helpful?
Woakes believes that his career might be furthered by missing the India tour.
"I wouldn't want that to be the same case going to India, bowling on tracks which are unresponsive to my type of bowling; slamming the front knee down at 34 is not really ideal when I want to play a lot of white-ball cricket moving forward.
"It's different when that's just your sole focus but when you want to play all forms, it makes it a wise decision."
1/8:Shoaib Bashir among uncapped trio in England Test squad for India tour
2/8:Four specialist spinners in England squad
<p>England on Monday named four specialist spinners, including the uncapped duo of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, in the 16-member squad for next month's five-Test series in India.<br /></p>
3/8:20-year-old Bashir plays for Somerset
<p>The 20-year-old Bashir, who plays for Somerset, has snapped 10 wickets in his six-match first-class career that began in June this year. Off-spinners Bashir and Hartley were both part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates last month.<br /></p>
4/8:Leach returns after recovering from back injury
<p>The other two specialist spinners in the squad are Jack Leach, who has recovered from his back injury, and teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. Ahmed returns to the Test squad after claiming a five-wicket haul on his Test debut in Pakistan last December. <br /></p>Getty Images
5/8:Maiden Test call for pacer Atkinson
<p>Surrey quick Gus Atkinson, who claimed 20 wickets in five County Championship matches last summer at an average of 20.20 helping Surrey claim back-to-back titles, has also earned his maiden Test call.<br /></p>
6/8:Stokes to lead England against India
<p>England skipper Ben Stokes, who underwent knee surgery after the World Cup, is also named in the squad but it is to be seen if the all-rounder resumes bowling duties. (Getty Images)<br /></p>Getty Images
7/8:England also recall wicketkeeper-batter Foakes
<p>Wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes, who didn't figure in the Ashes squad, has also been recalled.<br /></p>Getty Images
8/8:Veteran Anderson to lead England pace attack
<p>Veteran James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Atkinson and Mark Wood are the four frontline seamers in the squad. The five-Test series is slated to begin in Hyderabad on January 25. <br /></p>Getty ImagesVaughan surprised by Woakes omission
Michal Vaughan, a former captain of England, feels the all-rounder should have been in the team.
"It tells you England think he can't bowl in India, it's as simple as that. I'm staggered by it really," Vaughan told foxsports.com.au.
"That you've got a player that came into the Ashes with Mark Wood and they were 2-0 down against Australia in three Test matches. To think a few months later (he's left out), his all-round ability, he bats well, fields well and I guess they just feel he has been in those conditions before in the past and he's not going to have an impact.
Earlier in the year, Woakes was crucial to England's comeback from a 0-2 deficit to draw the Ashes 2-2. Earlier this year, during the Ashes, the pacer was declared the player of the series.
"They are clearly thinking it's going to be a five-match series where spin is going to play a prominent part.
"I think England are thinking they are probably only going to play two seam bowlers and with that Woakes is not the kind of seamer they are going to require in Indian conditions.
"But it still does surprise me you've got a player who was man of the series in the Ashes against the best team in the world that are Australia and a few months down the line he doesn't even warrant a place in the squad.
"Even if it's just two Test matches, holding an end and bowling dots, maybe getting some reverse swing and then offering a little with the bat. It does surprise me."
(With PTI inputs)
