Chris Wakes is training at Lord's this week, but it's unlikely he'll take part in the second challenge. Credit: PA/Zach Goodwin
It seemed so certain to the player himself and other observers that Chris Wakes would play the first Test of the summer against Ireland at Lord's that he was assigned to pre-match media duties two days before the Test: reserve players , not mixing hearty.
When England made the shocking announcement a few hours later that Wokes' place was instead going to Worcestershire debutant Josh Tong, Captain Ben Stokes framed it as an exercise in research. England wanted a look at Tonga, who ended up taking five wickets, and didn't think it would affect their chances of beating Ireland.
“We know exactly what Chris Wokes has to offer with his all-round ability,” Stokes said, implying that this was especially true of Lord, where Wokes' track record is remarkable.
He's averaging five matches 61.2 with the bat and 11.3 with the ball. He has a century, three five-wicket tosses and a 10-wicket toss. He dominates the Lord and England in general. At home, he averages 35.3 at bat and 22.6 with ball, compared to 21.9 and 51.9 away. With the Dukes ball, he's a formidable operator.
Chris Vokes
Less than a month away, with the next Trial of Lord approaching, Wakes is on the team but barely in the conversation to play. His chances seemed to be further diminished when Rehan Ahmed was called in as cover for Moen Ali, suggesting that England would play full attack – plus Joe Root – only if the conditions absolutely required it. Given the dry weather we've seen in recent weeks and the forecast for another warm week, this is unlikely.
This would leave Wakes with the need to break through as one of the top three seamers. It's also a boost: Stuart Broad was great at Edgbaston, while Ollie Robinson took his average test score from 21.3 to 21.2, another solid result. Jimmy Anderson's views on the field at Edgbaston are known, but he'll be better in that first game since injury and has 117 wickets at Lord's 24.6 in two decades.
And then there's Mark Wood, who has modest results at home (average: 40.7) and Lord (39.7), but he used to trouble Australia and has the pace to blow the streak.< /p>
Wakes' name might come into conversation if England wants to be nicer with their choice. Once Lorde starts, the games get tight and fast, with two test sets in a row with just a week off. Anderson is 40 and Broad will be 37 on Saturday. With the Headingley test only three days after Lord's finish, maybe it makes sense to let one of them rest and hand him over to Wookes at his favorite spot?
Chris Wookes beats India at Lord's in 2018 on his way to his centenary. Photo: Getty Images/Mitchell Gunn
He supports the batting, although this is less true against Australia, who are likely to follow him with a flurry of the ball, and with Moen or Ahmed in the number 8 team.Vokes may be of less use as the series wears out. His record at Headingley is modest and while he has had good games at Old Trafford and the Oval, Wood seems to be a better fit for those venues.
By the fourth test, Ollie Stone can return to the conversation. He was initially hoped to be able to play in this weekend's Championship round for Nottinghamshire but it looks like his return due to a hamstring injury has been slightly delayed and he will return to T20 cricket next week instead. He would offer another really fast option.
Wakes is now 34 and hasn't played Tests anywhere in 15 months or at home since September 2021, so he has yet to play under Stokes and McCallum. Even this fabulous Lord's record was last updated four years ago in the Ashes series, which was modest overall. His performances for Warwickshire this season have been very good, but it would take a lot for him to immediately return to his peak. Only Anderson and Broad distorted the notion that speed bowling was a job for young people.
Vokes admitted in this scathing media appearance that “I definitely thought I couldn't” play the test or even in first-class cricket. again during an extended hiatus last summer due to a knee injury that required surgery.
As England begins to refine their team for the Lord, there must be concern for Woux, England's excellent servant, if not now then when?
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