Ashes 2023: He’s an under-the-radar player – Michael Vaughan lauds Chris Woakes for outstanding spell

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan hailed Chris Woakes for his outstanding spell on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test match against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester. Woakes was the pick of the England bowlers, retuning with impressive figures of 4-52 in the 19 overs he bowled.

Woakes accounted for David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Alex Carey. The right-arm swing bowler bowled in the right ares to get his rewards against Australia after Ben Stokes decided to bowl first.

Woakes had David Warner dismissed when the left-hander was looking to drive through the off-side but could only manage an outside edge. The 34-year-old from Warwickshire then had Cameron Green plumbed in front of the wickets in the third session whereas dismissed Marsh caught behind to Jonny Bairstow, who took a one-handed blinder.

Towards the fag end of the game, Woakes dismissed Australia’s wicket-keeper bat Alex Carey with the second new ball.

Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz, “Will England rue the fact that they didn’t pick him at Lord’s? We’ll have to wait and see over the next couple of weeks. He’s an under-the-radar player,” he said. “At Headingley it was all about Mark Wood because he bowled at 96.5 MPH.”

“But then when it doesn’t swing, he starts wobbling the seam and starts nipping it either way. Terrific skill level but also that zip and carry through to Bairstow was perfect. He’s got 10 wickets at 19 since he came into the Ashes series,” he added.

In the third Test match at Leeds, Headingley, Woakes had bagged a total of six wickets in the game. Furthermore, he had played a crucial knock of 32 runs and had added 59 runs with Harry Brook to help England chase down 251 runs.

“Actually at the end of the week I looked at Chris Woakes and went his figures were pretty good and he got the runs. Again today, he just sneaks under the radar because everyone’s talking about Stuart Broad’s 600 and Jimmy Anderson being back in the team,” said Vaughan.

Woakes has been terrific for England so far and he will look to continue the good show in the rest of the Ashes. Australia were 299-8 at stumps on the opening day of the fourth Test.