Rob Key, the managing director of the England men’s team, has announced the end of Chris Woakes’ Test career after the seamer was overlooked for the Ashes. He also said that Harry Brook’s qualities as “a better leader” caused him to take Ollie Pope’s place as vice-captain.
Key’s remarks came a day after England revealed their 16-man roster for the tour of Australia this winter. The absence of Woakes and a new deputy to Ben Stokes, which head coach Brendon McCullum had hinted at, were the main talking points in an otherwise predictable touring party, even though Will Jacks’ presence was the only unexpected name.
Woakes and Mohammed Siraj were the only quicks to start all five Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy matches this summer. But on the first day of the fifth Test at the Kia Oval, he suffered a severe dislocation of his shoulder. In order to give himself the best chance of making the Ashes, he decided against having surgery after coming out to bat in a sling on the exciting final morning of the match.
“It’s been as tough a time for someone, I think, in cricket terms, the timing of it (the shoulder dislocation) as much as anything else, and the chance of recurrence for the immediate future for Chris Woakes,” Key said.
“He was running out of time to be ready for the start for the Ashes. And then once you get out of an Ashes series, you’re often looking at the next cycle, really. So Chris Woakes isn’t in our plans at the minute… at all.”
Pope had previously filled in as Test captain five times, most recently against India in the Oval Test. But since taking Jos Buttler’s place in March, England has been pleased with Brook’s adaptation to the limited-overs captaincy.
In addition to being the best short-term replacement in Australia in the event that the captain is injured and misses any Ashes action, this additional responsibility solidifies his position as Stokes’ most likely successor in the long run.
“It’s pretty simple, really – we think (Brook) is the best person for the job,” Key said.
“He has had more experience now in leadership and I think that Harry Brook deserves it. There are no other ulterior motives, other than the fact that we think Harry Brook is the best person to be the best vice-captain.
“I think he (Pope) felt that it was coming. Vice-captaincy is not always the most important decision you have to make. We could have gone down the road of not having a vice-captain. When Popey has done it, he’s done it well. He’s fitted into so many different roles that we’ve asked him to do over the past few years and done them all well. Harry Brook is just the better leader and will be the better leader going forward, so that’s why he gets that job.”
Looking ahead to the Perth Test in just under two months’ time, Key added: “Ollie Pope is the man in possession. We’ll find out what that XI will be, probably two days before.”
