Chris Woakes eager to put frustrating winter behind him

NICK HOWSON: The England allrounder has not turned out for his country in nine months due to complications caused by Covid-19. Starting with the Sri Lanka T20s, there is optimism that a difficult period has finally reached its end

Chris Woakes is hoping to put a difficult nine months behind him as he gears up for a return to England's T20 side against Sri Lanka.

The 32-year-old, named the PCA player of the year last summer, has not turned out for his country since last September due to complications caused by Covid-19.

After seeing the South Africa ODIs pulled last December, Woakes was expected to have a key role during the Tests in Sri Lanka and India.

But after being in close contact with Moeen Ali, who tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Sri Lanka, Woakes was forced into seven days of isolation and was not deemed ready for the series.

On the back foot in the race for selection, he had a watching brief during the first three India Tests before flying home as part of the team's rotation policy and did not return for the ODIs.

Having played in the eventually-curtailed Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals, the Warwickshire allrounder has been given extra time to recuperate and therefore chose to not be considered to play New Zealand.

^{Chris Woakes has not turned out in a T20 for England in six years}

Ironically, he could return in a format he has not represented England in for six years but it's clear Woakes is keen just to get back to work.

"A frustrating winter for me," he said. "Obviously the South Africa tour pre-Christmas and what happened with Covid.

"The unfortunate events of having to isolate when we got to Sri Lanka having been in close contact with Mo. It all bubbles up to frustration. 

"Not playing a single game all winter after the summer that I had almost felt like a bit of a waste for me. It was great to be with the squad but you want to be playing cricket and you want to be making the most of your form when you're hot. 

"I didn't get a go in India either which was unfortunate. I was excited about going to the IPL, getting into a different team environment, pick some brains and get playing cricket again. 

England v Sri Lanka T20Is: All you need to know

"Obviously that was cut short so I'm just excited to play some cricket, great to be out there with Birmingham Bears the last week or so and I want to put that behind me really and look at what is ahead. It has certainly been a tough seven or eight months."

A turbulent winter was set in motion by that period in isolation having shared a taxi to Heathrow Airport with Moeen. Despite numerous apologies from the ECB, the decision for them to travel in transit still wrangles with Woakes.

"I felt like I was a shoo-in to play that first Test match in Sri Lanka. What happened did have a knock-on effect and when the team does well it all of a sudden becomes difficult to break back in. 

"That was a big, unfortunate event which did have a knock-on effect for the rest of my winter with England. It doesn't mean I would have played all the Test matches in the winter but I might have had an opportunity to put my hand up with a strong performance and the thoughts around selection for the future Test matches might have been different. 

"It was a big moment and there have been apologies but at the end of the day it is an unfortunate situation we were put in and I missed out because of that.

"I vented my frustration at the time and apologies were given. Every stone was turned and we didn't leave anything - but that was the thing that we did not quite get right and I paid a price for that."

^{It has been nine months since Woakes' last international outing against Australia}

Since returning to England in early May following the postponement of the IPL Woakes has been given extra time to recharge his batteries and took the decision to extend his international exile and miss the two-Test series against New Zealand to spend time with his young family, of which he has two daughters.

"I'd spent a lot of time away from home over that period and it had taken its toll mentally," he explained.

"The IPL was very much a decision I took on and that is on my shoulders. 

"I felt it was a great opportunity to learn and play some cricket having had the winter that I had. 

"Those two Tests against New Zealand were put in quite late. The issue was as soon as getting out of isolation in London I would have had a few days at home then I would have to have played for Warwickshire to be available for any part of that series. 

"There is also the tricky side of Covid restrictions. Once we'd made the decision it was never really an option to play the second Test match, you would have to have been in the bubble at the start."

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