World Cup: Chris Woakes is hoping to remain as England's new-ball bowler
Warwickshire seamer took five-wickets in warm-up win over West Indies
Monday 9 February 2015 23:44, UK
Chris Woakes hopes his five-wicket haul in England's win over West Indies will ensure he keeps hold of the new ball during the World Cup.
Woakes has been deployed as an opening bowler in England's recent ODIs and starred from that position in Monday's World Cup warm-up against the Windies, taking three early wickets en route to snaring 5-19 from his 7.3 overs.
"I'd like to think it’s going to be me [getting the new ball] as I have done it for 10 games or so now," said Woakes, who has picked up 42 wickets in his 29 one-day internationals to date.
"Every time you put on a shirt you want to do your best for England but also for your cause so fingers crossed I’ll get the new ball - I’m not aware of any changes at the minute."
Woakes led England’s attack with senior bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad rested and proceeded to remove Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo with consecutive balls in the first over before latterly dismissing Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell.
However, the Warwickshire seamer says all of England’s bowlers deserve credit for skittling West Indies out for 122 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a feat that helped set up a routine nine-wicket victory for Eoin Morgan’s outfit.
Right
“I’m sure [West Indies] will say there were a couple of shots that they would not like to play but I thought we put the ball in the right areas,” said Woakes.
“I thought we were slightly short in the first couple of overs but once we found our length I thought we were quite tough to face.
"We didn't bowl anything at the death, but there is another warm-up game on Wednesday [against Pakistan] so I'm sure that will throw up some different challenges."
England meet Australia in Melbourne on Saturday in their first match of the World Cup, just two weeks after they were beaten by The Baggy Greens in the final of the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series at The WACA.
"The game has been coming for a long time now and it's going to be huge for us and the Australians," added Woakes. "I'm sure they will be feeling as much pressure as we are.
"The opening game of the World Cup is a great opportunity for us. We know they are a great team and they've had the wood over us in the Tri-Series, so we have a point to prove and hopefully we can turn them over on Saturday."
Watch highlights of England's win over West Indies at 6.30pm and 9.30pm on Monday on Sky Sports 2 or on the same channel at 11am on Tuesday.
Each and every game of the ICC Cricket World Cup will be shown live on our dedicated channel, Sky Sports World Cup, starting with New Zealand against Sri Lanka from 10pm on Friday, 13 February.
Before then don’t miss our World Cup Preview Show, with Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan, from 8pm on Friday on the same channel.
