England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket, drawing a close to a 12-year career after being told he was no longer in England’s plans following a serious shoulder dislocation.
Woakes, 36, played his final match last month against India at the Oval, where he walked out to bat one-handed with his arm in a sling after injuring himself in the field. He did not face a ball as India sealed a six-run win to level the series 2–2. The injury ruled him out of contention for this winter’s Ashes in Australia, effectively ending his England tenure.
“The moment has come, and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket,” Woakes wrote on Instagram. “Playing for England was something I aspired to do since I was a kid… and I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived out those dreams.”
His decision comes days after Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, indicated Woakes was unlikely to feature again.
A reliable pillar across formats
- Tests: 62 matches, 192 wickets, over 2,000 runs at an average above 25.
- Renowned for new-ball accuracy in England, lower-order runs, and a calm presence in tight finishes.
- Integral to multiple home summers and white-ball campaigns with his swing bowling and utility with the bat.
Woakes’ retirement closes a chapter for a player celebrated as one of England’s most dependable all-format contributors of the past decade—particularly at home, where his seam movement and control were match-defining. His absence leaves England reshaping their seam attack ahead of the five-Test Ashes series starting in Perth on 21 November.
