England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket. Bringing down the curtain on a memorable career that spanned more than a decade. The decision came after the England Cricket Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 ODI. Management indicated that the 36-year-old paceman was no longer in their long-term plans. Woakes’s last appearance in national colours came just a month ago against India at the Oval.
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In a remarkable moment of grit, he strode out to bat with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder earlier in the match. Although he did not face a delivery before India sealed a six-run victory to level the series 22, the image of Woakes walking to the crease symbolised his commitment to England tour 2026. That injury ended his chances of selection for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia and ultimately marked the end of his international journey.
Making his Test debut in 2013, Woakes went on to represent England in 62 Tests, claiming 192 wickets and scoring more than 2,000 runs at an average of 25. Renowned for his reliability with both bat and ball, he was often described as the perfect team player.
England Tour: Cricket World Pays Tribute as Chris Woakes Calls Time on England Career
Beyond the red-ball format, Woakes featured in 33 T20 internationals and 122 one-day internationals, carving a reputation as one of England’s most adaptable cricketers. One of the highlights of his career came in 2019, when he played a central role in England tour historic triumph at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on home soil. His performances with the new ball and his calmness under pressure were pivotal as England secured their maiden 50-over crown.
As news of his retirement broke, tributes poured in. Rob Key, managing director of men’s cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), acknowledged Woakes’s immense contribution. Chris Woakes is one of the finest people to have played the game. He crafted an extraordinary career alongside two of England’s greatest-ever bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
He always added value to every team he was part of, often even before stepping on the field. ECB chairman Richard Thompson echoed those sentiments, describing Woakes as both a “gentleman off the field” and a fierce competitor on it. He highlighted Woakes’s bravery in batting with an injured shoulder as proof of his dedication to the England shirt.
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England Set for Crucial Sri Lanka Tour Ahead of 2026 ODI
In his farewell message on Instagram, Woakes reflected on his childhood dream of representing England. Playing for England was something I aspired to do since I was a kid dreaming in the back garden. I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived out those dreams. Representing England, wearing the Three Lions, and sharing the field with teammates over the last 15 years, many of whom have become lifelong friends, are moments I will look back on with immense pride.
Though stepping away from international duty, Woakes confirmed he will continue playing county cricket for Warwickshire and explore opportunities in global franchise leagues. While Woakes bids farewell, England’s men’s team faces a packed calendar. Their Ashes series against Australia begins in Perth on November 21, the first of five gripping Test matches.
But the white-ball focus is equally significant as preparations intensify for the 2026 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by England and Sri Lanka. According to the itinerary, England will play a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka on January 22, 24, and 27, followed by a three-match T20I series on January 30, February 1, and February 3.
The exact venues are yet to be finalised, but the tour will provide vital practice in subcontinental conditions, invaluable just months before the global tournament. England, crowned ODI champions in 2010 and 2022, will be hungry for a third title after falling agonisingly short in the semi-finals of the 2024 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Their last limited-overs visit to Sri Lanka was in 2018.
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