Chris Woakes retires from international cricket:England all-rounder came out to bat with arm in a sling vs India, played 217 matches across formats

England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing down the curtain on a 14-year career that saw him play a pivotal role in two World Cup triumphs. Key World Cup moments Woakes, 36, represented England 217 times across formats since his debut in 2013. A key figure in the 2019 ODI World Cup win, he took three wickets in the final against New Zealand at Lord’s. Three years later, he was again part of the victorious T20 World Cup squad that beat Pakistan in Melbourne. Test and white-ball numbers The Birmingham-born cricketer featured in 62 Tests, taking 192 wickets and scoring a memorable century against India at Lord’s in 2018. He also picked up 173 wickets in 122 ODIs and 31 wickets in 33 T20Is. Woakes on retirement Reflecting on his decision, Woakes said retiring was “the right time,” adding that fulfilling his childhood dream of representing England and sharing the field with lifelong friends would remain his greatest pride. Tributes from ECB ECB chair Richard Thompson hailed Woakes as a “gentleman off the field” and a match-winner on it, recalling his new-ball brilliance in the 2019 World Cup, his T20 World Cup success in 2022, and his player-of-the-series performance in the 2023 Ashes. One of the most striking images of Woakes’ career came in 2025, when he walked out to bat with his arm strapped in to try and win a Test match against India at The Oval, with a possibility of winning the series. Barely able to hold the bat, Woakes still chose to face the music, showing a level of grit and selflessness that underlined his reputation as a consummate team man. Though his efforts could not help England win who lost by 6 runs, the sight of him hobbling to the crease symbolised his unwavering commitment to England, something that goes far beyond his career stats. Respected all-rounder Woakes departs as one of England’s most admired modern all-rounders, celebrated for both his skill and sportsmanship.