"Been quite hard to focus" - Chris Woakes reflects on his father's recent demise
Veteran England seamer Chris Woakes admitted that it's been a tough ask to focus on cricket following the death of his father that occurred recently. However, the Warwickshire seamer stated that taking the field after putting on the whites for England is a privileged job at the end of the day.
Woakes hadn't played any cricket since February until returning to county cricket to prepare for the home summer. The 35-year-old announced on June 1st via his official social media handle that his father passed away not too long ago but underlined his willingness to return as his father loved it.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Woakes admitted that it was one of those things when he was reminded of how fickle life is and, hence, wants to give his everything on the field. He elaborated, as quoted by Sky Sports:
"It was one of those things in life that you probably never really think's going to happen until it does. Trying to get back into cricket, it has been quite hard to focus on the day job but once you get back out there and particularly putting on the England whites, it reminds you how lucky we are to do what we do.
"My approach at the minute is to put things in perspective, and just be happy to be here and try and give 110 per cent."
The veteran played an instrumental role in helping draw the Ashes series last year, taking 19 wickets in three Tests at 18.16. Nevertheless, the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's saw him manage only one scalp across both innings.
"My away record isn't as good as at home," says Chris Woakes on his chances of playing in Ashes
With England's sights already on the Ashes series next year Down Under, Woakes believes James Anderson and Stuart Broad's evolution inspires him that he could lead the attack in Australia.
"It would be hard for me to just stand here and say I'll be the opening bowler in the Ashes because obviously my away record isn't as good as at home. But at the same time, I've looked at Stuart [Broad] and Jimmy [Anderson] evolve as they've got older and I still hope that I can potentially do the same," Woakes said.
The second Test between England and the West Indies begins on July 18th in Nottingham.