PAK vs ENG 2024: Brendon McCullum expects ‘leader of the attack’ Chris Woakes to step up on foreign soil

Brendon McCullum and Chris Woakes (Photo Source : X/Twitter)

All-rounder Chris Woakes averages 51.88 with the ball in Test cricket away from home. During the Stuart Broad and James Anderson era, he was even benched or dropped from the squad whenever England travelled abroad. The latest five-match series against India is the best example of when Woakes wasn’t picked. However, with Anderson now retired, England are banking on the bowling all-rounder against Pakistan, especially with Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson out with their respective injuries.

Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that he will open the bowling for the Three Lions and stated that he is happy with how Woakes has operated ever since Anderson retired. He analysed that the veteran used his experience, skill and knowledge in the entire English summer and was fairly successful in the series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

“He’ll get the opportunity with the new ball over here, which is something that he should enjoy a lot more. I’m really, really impressed with how Woakesy’s been able to operate for us since he’s taken up the ‘leader of the attack’ mantle,” McCullum was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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“Throughout the English summer, when the ball was flat, he was still able to use his skill and knowledge to get the ball to reverse-swing, and challengers [batters] in different ways. Add his batting to that, and his leadership qualities, and he becomes a pretty important player for us,” he added.

McCullum on Multan conditions

England defeated Pakistan 3-0 the last time they travelled in 2022. Ahead of the upcoming three-match series, McCullum noted that the conditions are different this time around and there’s a bit of live grass on the wicket, which was absent the last time.

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“We’re going to have to ensure that we adapt to the conditions, which I think look a lot different to what we played on a couple of years ago. There’s a bit more live grass on the wicket than what we saw throughout all three Test matches [in 2022]… We’ve just got to be quite malleable with our plans and adapt as quickly as we can,” McCullum said.