Cricket: Woakes aims to help rise of England

Published on 04/07/2012 00:00

CHRIS Woakes hopes he can join England’s rise to the top of the one-day international rankings, on his home ground at Edgbaston today.

But the Warwickshire seamer is aware his participation depends on the fitness of first-choice fast bowler James Anderson, who missed England’s victory over Australia at The Oval three days ago with a groin injury. Woakes was called up on Monday as cover for a seam attack which will also be minus Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker in Birmingham. The Surrey pair will travel to Wales today for the funeral of their former county team-mate Tom Maynard, and Dernbach will miss the rest of the five-match NatWest Series because of a side strain.

Woakes said: “It’s fantastic to be in the squad and involved again, and nice to know the selectors are thinking of me. But if Jimmy’s fit then obviously I won’t play. From 2-0 up, the idea is to win and seal the series. We’re not looking any further ahead than that.”