Chris Woakes Opens Up About Personal Loss and Ashes 2025-26 Hopes

England's Chris Woakes discusses the grief over his father's death, its impact on his cricket career, and his aspirations for the 2025-26 Ashes series. Woakes hopes to emulate veteran bowlers despite a weaker away record.

England all-rounder Chris Woakes spoke candidly about the recent passing of his father and how it has affected his career, including his prospects for the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia. Woakes shared details of his loss, revealing his father died in early May, a tragedy that sidelined him from professional cricket for months. Although signed by Punjab Kings for 4.20 crore rupees in the IPL 2024, he did not play a single match and missed out on England's T20 World Cup squad for 2024.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the second Test against West Indies, Woakes reflected on the grief of losing a parent. He emphasized the emotional challenge of returning to cricket but noted that donning the England jersey reinvigorates his passion for the game. Despite the heartache, Woakes is determined to maintain a balanced outlook and give his all.

Regarding his Ashes prospects, Woakes admitted his away performance pales compared to his home record but expressed optimism about improving with age, inspired by veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad. At home, Woakes boasts impressive stats with both bat and ball, but his away performance remains a concern. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful of evolving his game and making his mark in the future series.

(With inputs from agencies.)