Star England all-rounder Chris Woakes recently disclosed the reason behind his absence from professional cricket for several months. Woakes revealed that he had taken a break due to the passing of his father at the beginning of May. This personal loss led him to step away from the game, including missing out on participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where he was signed by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a substantial fee of 4.20 Crore rupees but did not feature in any matches.
Expressing his emotions on his official X account, Woakes shared the challenges he faced during this period. He mentioned that the past month had been the most difficult of his life, and he had spent time with his close family members to cope with the loss. Woakes emphasized the importance of perspective during such trying times.
Looking ahead, Woakes announced his plans to return to cricket with Warwickshire, his father’s beloved team. He expressed his eagerness to resume playing for both Warwickshire and England, knowing that it would have made his father proud. Woakes, who made his international debut in T20Is against Australia in 2011, has an impressive record in the format, with 146 runs and 31 wickets in 33 matches.
In the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, England is set to compete in Group B against rivals Australia, Scotland, Namibia, and Oman. The defending champions will kick off their campaign against Scotland on June 4. The England squad for the tournament includes key players like Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, and Ben Duckett, among others.