"Something Has To Give" - Chris Woakes prioritizes T20 World Cup and the Ashes over IPL 2021
England seam-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes has elaborated on his decision to skip the second phase of the IPL 2021. Chris Woakes, who earned a spot in England's T20 squad, is among three English players to pull out of the UAE leg.
The 32-year old has put his international commitments ahead of the lucrative tournament. Woakes wants to be available, fit and firing in England's bid to win their second T20 crown and the Ashes in Australia soon after.
Woakes, playing for his first-class side Warwickshire, preferred the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, claiming it would be an exciting few months for the English team. Thus, he had to sacrifice his IPL deal.
"With the World Cup and the Ashes, it would have been too much in a short space of time. I would have loved to have been part of the IPL but something has to give. A World Cup and an Ashes tour, it’s almost as big a winter as our summer was in 2019."
"It’s a shame with what’s going on Covid-wise that it’s not going to be as normal as everyone would like. But, from a cricket perspective, it’s very exciting," Woakes said as quoted by The Guardian.
Woakes further remarked that he was unaware of being part of the T20 squad. The right-arm seamer said the IPL has stumbled upon them at the end of their summer.
"My inclusion in the World Cup squad, I didn’t know was going to happen – especially a couple of months ago. The IPL has been rescheduled and thrown on to the end of our summer," Woakes said as quoted by The Guardian.
Chris Woakes was part of the Delhi Capitals and took five wickets in three games in the first half at 16.40 apiece. The franchise announced Australian seamer Ben Dwarshuis as his replacement on Monday.
Check out the IPL 2021 purple cap here.
Chris Woakes played only one Test this summer
The 32-year old could only feature in one Test this summer, playing in the fourth Test at the Oval against India. He recovered from his heel injury to replace Sam Curran and picked up four wickets in the first innings. Woakes followed it by scoring a crucial fifty.
Unfortunately, England slumped to a 157-run loss. The fifth Test in Manchester was abandoned after India refused to take the field. It emerged later that the influx of COVID-19 cases within their support staff had created tensions in their minds.