Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised England pacer Chris Woakes for his stunning performance in the recently concluded Ashes 2023. While referring to the bowler as someone who keeps getting better with age, Ashwin also added that he feels jealous of him because of how easy he makes things look. However, Woakes, who did not play in the first two Ashes Tests, was named Player of the Series for picking up 19 wickets in three matches at an average of 18.16. He claimed three wickets in both innings of the Headingley Test and scalped his maiden Ashes five-fer in the rain-hit game in Manchester.
“He is someone who keeps getting better with every game he plays. I still can’t understand how he is still not a regular in this England Test XI. If he was born in any other country, barring injuries, he would have been one of the top three names in the playing XI,” the Indian off-spinner said on his YouTube channel.“I feel really jealous when I watch him play. He makes it look really easy. He is a natural athlete. If you look at the way he runs, you will feel as if someone trained him how to run a huddle. On the field, once he finishes his spell, he will not remain stiff at all. His bowling action is so natural and his run-up itself is so good, it makes you go, ‘wow’.”
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Having made his international debut in 2011, Chris Woakes has represented England in 48 Tests, 112 ODIs, and 29 T20Is as well. Meanwhile, the Oval Test marked the professional retirement of England’s pace-bowling legend Stuart Broad as well.
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While praising him, R Ashwin said: “I don’t think any fast bowler, or be it any bowler, will get close to 600 Test wickets in the future generation. What an extraordinary career. Both Broad and Anderson have been great servants of English cricket. Broad’s retirement will mean Chris Woakes will get a standard slot in the playing XI.”
