Chris Woakes runs between the wickets with his arm in a sling as he bats on day five of the 5th Rothesay Test Match at The Kia Oval on August 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo/Getty Images)
Former England fast bowler Chris Woakes has described the way he was told he was no longer part of England’s plans as ‘cold’ and ‘shabby’, saying managing director Rob Key could have spoken to him privately before making the announcement public.
Woakes, who played 217 international matches for England across formats, including 62 Tests, made his final red-ball appearance during the fifth Test against India at The Oval in August 2025. Because the game moves on,” Woakes added, but in any walk of professional sport there isn’t much loyalty. Woakes subsequently announced his immediate retirement from international cricket. he was hurt by the way Key publicly announced that he was no longer in the team’s plans While he accepted his omission from last year’s Ashes squad and the end of his England contract.
“Chris Woakes isn’t in our plans,” Key said, adding, “at all. Despite dislocating his shoulder while fielding, he came out to bat in a bid to help his team. However, the effort did not earn him a place in England’s Ashes squad. In his autobiography, The Wizard, Woakes reflected on how England moved on from him. Looking back at the comments, Woakes wrote, as cited by The Guardian: “That final bit felt a bit cold. “We have barely spoken since. He is a busy man and moved on to different things. I am sure at some point we will discuss it.