Miller medal

T20 World Cup: England seamer Chris Woakes believes he can still lead England's pace squad against Australia in the Ashes 2026 after the departure of stalwarts James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

At 35, Chris Woakes finds himself stepping into the role of the senior statesman in England's cricket team, a mantle he assumes as he prepares for the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. In a span of just one year, he has seen the departures of stalwart bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the England seam attack.

"It makes me feel incredibly old," said Chris Woakes as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "But it's a lovely occasion. This week, it's just been really nice to be a part of Jimmy's last game. I've been very lucky to have played for a long period of time with him, and the lessons and little nuggets that I've learned from him across the years have certainly made me a better player. I feel very fortunate to have bowled with England's best ever."