Chris Woakes is due to undergo knee surgery on Thursday to try to resuscitate his chances of taking part in the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts in October.
He was one of two players – and the only bowler – to feature in England’s squad for the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates as well as the Ashes in Australia from November to January and a test tour In the Caribbean.
Woakes returned from the West Indies in March with shoulder and knee injuries and has since reported a minor ankle problem. He played a second eleven-man game this summer.
He was initially told to take “a little break”, but doctors now suspect there is a problem with the cartilage in his left knee which will require surgery. Recovery if the surgery is successful is expected to take between four and six weeks, leaving him with a battle to prove his fitness ahead of the seven T20s England have scheduled in Pakistan in September as part of their World Cup preparations .
It is the second time in less than a week that an English fashion designer has felt forced to undergo surgery to try to win a seat on the plane to Australia after Mark Wood – who had right elbow surgery in March – underwent a second procedure on the same joint last weekend.
Four other England bowlers – Jofra Archer, Olly Stone, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher – are recovering from stress fractures in their backs, while this week Ollie Robinson plays his first match in over two months, for Sussex against Nottinghamshire in the Championship County .
Having rested since returning from the West Indies, Woakes reported in early June that he had “turned a corner”. At the time, he said: “I got the ball back in my hand, although a few very light bowling sessions, but I feel like competitive cricket isn’t too far off.”
He featured at the end of that month for Warwickshire’s second XI in a four-day game against Worcestershire second XI but after playing nine overs he was pulled off with knee discomfort, did not did not hit or play in the second inning and did not play. a competitive game ever since.
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