Chris Wakes filmed a great bat cameo in Edgbaston. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
It sounds like this summer's Ashes opening match will be the Battle of the Wounded Knee. England captain Ben Stokes can hobble and grimace after a few overs, but it's not enough to provide adequate support to the big three of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson on a rocking court.
It was just in time — long overdue indeed — for Chris Wakes to hit the ball in what was, although it may seem absurd for a great all-rounder in his prime, his first red ball innings since March last year. He had a left knee injury that kept him out of the field all of last summer, played only for England in the winter and missed out on Warwickshire's win over Kent last week.
27 of Wookes' 37 balls were just the kind of innings England would need if it were to be a low-scoring streak. He came in as Warwickshire was engulfed by Surrey's seaming machines in 93 in six, and with ever-increasing fluency, he shared the highest position in the home team's innings with very promising left-hander Dan Mosley. Warwickshire will write some score against the county champions.
After several forward defenses, under high clouds and spotlights, with the ball swinging and once hooking between his bat and pad early on, Wookes went off the border down to third to a man such as Joe Ruth, and were limited to a thin leg. He may even have been keeping an eye on the ball when he hit his only six of the day.
Wooks and Dan Musley helped Warwickshire recover from a bad start at bat. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
When England started the first Last Ashes test here in 2019, it was billed as the «Fortress of Edgbaston». Australia hasn't won in any format on this course since 2004, and wow, does anyone hate this arrogance: Edgbaston Fortress. Punishment was issued within the first half hour when Anderson hobbled and missed the rest of the series, leaving England with a solid attack of Broad, Wakes and Stokes: not enough infantry on the rocking ground.
Vokes is now 34 years old and not put his name up for auction at the IPL to focus on reclaiming his place in England and a share of the urn. Last week, although he didn't hit Kent, his outswing worked again in the second inning and he took five wickets.
These are overseas conditions that Wakes has yet to master, as Anderson did in his thirties; it's not Australia per se that upsets him. In England, he averages 35 at bat and 22 with ball. The winter before last, both in Australia and the West Indies, he was incorrectly chosen as the first bowler: the previous management of England forgot that Test cricket includes theater, not just bat and ball. Wakes, running for England's first Ashes in the Gabba, didn't keep millions of Australian babies awake that night or howling in terror in their cribs. Wookes' nature is too humble to be confrontational or theatrical: what's a beginner bowler supposed to do but confront?
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Wooks isn't attracted unless he thinks he's a batsman outside; he very reluctantly asks his captain to check. He is the exact opposite of Anderson and Broad in character, but in English conditions he can complement or supplement them, and very well.
When he was pinned by some kind of LBW tick, Wookes knocked out all his stumps. earth in disgust. No, of course, he didn’t go: he left without objections and views on the judge, exemplarily accepting his decision.
In the absence of Woakes for the last year or more, England's tail could be described as quirky at best: when Broad was in eighth place, it was very successful, or rather exhausting. When Wakes is eight and Joe Root is spinning at Edgbaston instead of Jack Leach, babies in England will at least be able to sleep soundly.
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