England allrounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a 14-year career in which he represented his country across all three formats.
The 36-year-old was left out of England’s Ashes squad last week as he continued his recovery from a shoulder dislocation suffered in the fifth Test against India in July. After England’s managing director Rob Key said Woakes was no longer in the team’s future plans, the Warwickshire player confirmed his decision in a statement on Instagram.
Woakes made his England debut in 2010 during the tour of Australia and went on to play 62 Tests, 122 ODIs and 33 T20Is, taking 396 wickets across formats. He was part of England’s 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup triumph at Lord’s and their 2022 T20 World Cup victory in Australia.
His most memorable moments included his Player of the Series performance during the 2023 Ashes, where he returned midway through the contest to help England fight back from 2-0 down, and his new-ball spell in the 2019 World Cup semi-final against Australia. In ODIs, he claimed 173 wickets at 30.01, the fifth-most by an English bowler.
Reflecting on his career, Woakes said playing for England had been his childhood dream and thanked his family, teammates, coaches and fans for their support. “Lifting two World Cups and being part of amazing Ashes series is something I never thought possible,” he said.
ECB chair Richard Thompson praised Woakes’ commitment, recalling his willingness to bat with his arm in a sling during the final Test against India this summer. “He has been a gentleman off the field and a fierce competitor on it,” Thompson said. Rob Key described him as “one of the finest people to have played the game.”
Woakes confirmed that he will continue playing county cricket for Warwickshire and explore franchise opportunities.