Chris Woakes is keen to continue his death-bowling role for England at the World Cup despite the return of the senior bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Woakes, the Warwickshire all-rounder, is the only England player to have taken two six-wicket hauls in one-day internationals, with a memorable six for 45 against Australia in Brisbane four years ago and six for 47 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele last month. Anderson and Broad missed that series in Sri Lanka through rest and injury respectively, allowing Woakes to bowl the crucial final overs.
It is a role the 25-year-old is keen to reprise even though he is not guaranteed to be in the team for the Tri-Series or the World Cup that follows. “If you bowl the death overs you’ve always got the chance of picking up wickets,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you can go out of the park and get hit for runs but it’s a great opportunity to get wickets.
“It’s tough bowling against the best batsmen in the world at that stage of the game but’s it’s a great experience. Hopefully I can do more of it.”
Woakes also hailed the influence the return of Anderson and Broad will have on the team ahead of their opening Tri-Series match, against Australia in Sydney on Friday. “Having Jimmy and Broady back is huge for us – it lifts the whole team. The amount of games they’ve played for England and performances they’ve put in can only give us a confidence booster. It definitely helps the bowling unit. As a younger player it can only be beneficial.”