Chris Woakes. (Getty Images)
Chris Woakes. (Getty Images)

Chris Woakes, England’s pace bowling all-rounder has revealed that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials have apologi\sed to him for making him take a taxi that ultimately ruined his winter.

Chris Woakes was told to share a cab with spin all-rounder Moeen Ali from Birmingham to Heathrow Airport ahead of England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in January. The 32-year-old had to isolate for a week when his fellow passenger tested positive for COVID-19 after they arrived in the island nation.

Chris Woakes Getty Images
Chris Woakes Getty Images

Chris Woakes Reveals He And Moeen Ali Were Put In An Unfortunate Situation And Vented His Frustration

Chris Woakes was ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle which eventually saw him miss every game in winter despite being voted player of the summer last season. The all-rounder recalled being frustrated with the hapless turn of events, adding that missing the winter season felt like a ‘waste’ of form to him.

Chris Woakes has acquired an apology from England over his taxi-sharing drama. The England star was dominated out after sharing a taxi with Moeen Ali, who contracted Covid-19.

“It was a big moment and there have been apologies but we were put in an unfortunate situation and I missed out because of that. I vented my frustration at the time. No stone has been left unturned during COVID-19 but that’s the one thing we did not get right. I paid the price for that.”

Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali - Action Images Via Reuters
Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali – Action Images Via Reuters

Chris Woakes feels he could have been a part of the playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka.

“I thought I was a shoo-in for the first Test. It doesn’t mean I would have then played all Tests but I would have had a chance to put my hand up and put in a strong performance. Not playing all winter after the summer I had, feels like a waste. You want to make the most of your form when you’re hot,” Woakes was quoted saying by Daily Mail.

After winning the two Tests in Sri Lanka, England lost the four-match test series in India. Moeen Ali featured in the India series for a solitary test before controversially heading home under the workload-management policy.

Chris Woakes Decided To Take A Break To Be With His Family Which Effectively Ruled Him Out Of Recent 2 Tests Against New Zealand

Chris Woakes also missed the recent two-test match series against New Zealand which the Kiwis won but admitted that he had himself to blame for this one. The ECB offered the players, who played in IPL 2021, a break from the home series, and Chris Woakes accepted it to be with his family.

“The IPL was very much on my shoulders. But it was tricky. The tests were scheduled late and as soon as I got out of isolation I would have had to play for Warwickshire after just a few days at home. It was in our hands and I decided a break with my family would do me good in the long run,” he added.

Chris Woakes last played a T20I for England against Pakistan in 2015-16 Getty Images
Chris Woakes last played a T20I for England against Pakistan in 2015-16 Getty Images

Chris Woakes has now been named in the squad for England’s T20 series against Sri Lanka. If given the opportunity, he will feature in a T20I after almost six years.

England has recalled Chris Woakes, David Willey, and Liam Dawson to their T20I squad to face Sri Lanka later this month. Chris Woakes has not played T20 cricket for England since 2015 but comes in as one of three changes from the India tour in March, with Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Reece Topley ruled out through injury.

England T20I squad For Sri Lanka: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

England squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood