‘Written in the stars’ – Chris Woakes picks out best moment of his sparkling career

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Chris Woakes says the best moment of his career came during the 2019 One Day World Cup.The 36-year-old wasn’t picked by England for The Ashes tour due to a shoulder injury suffered in the final Test of the series against India.Woakes has called it a day in international cricket after a stunning careerGetty Woakes dislocated his shoulder, meaning he couldn’t bowl, and his final act as a Test player was to bat one-handed as the hosts looked to win the series.In the end, he and England couldn’t get over the line, and he has now called time on his international career.And what a career it was.Woakes played 62 Test matches for his country, taking 192 wickets, and he also played 122 ODIs and 33 T20 internationals.And reflecting on retirement, he said on talkSPORT Breakfast: “It’s one of those moments that is a little bit sad and overwhelming, but I had those thoughts creeping into the head, and the shoulder injury that picked up towards the back end of the series against India might have forced my hand a little bit.“I wasn’t picked for The Ashes tour on fitness grounds, so it made sense for me to move on and let the next generation take over.”Woakes was asked by Gabby Agbonlahor if there was one moment in his career that he could go back and live again, what would it be?“It’s hard. It’s hard, mate,” Woakes responded. “I was very fortunate to have a long career with England. Some people don’t get as lucky as I have, so I feel very fortunate to have made great memories both on and off the field.“I think that 2019 win, mate. A World Cup win at home, at Lord’s. It wasn’t just the day itself. It was a dramatic day, and it was a crazy one, but I think the journey we’d been on from 2015 all the way through to 2019. “To turn it around from where we were to be the best team in the world and to take the opportunity at Lord’s and win a World Cup final at home was amazing to do that with that group of lads.”Woakes played a huge role for England winning the ODI World Cup for the first timeGetty - ContributorAlly McCoist then discussed the final against New Zealand, and the drama of the day still surprises Woakes to this day.“It was written in the stars, Ally. There was many moments during the game where it had gone. We had lost, to be honest.“Then those moments happen. Trent Boult stepping on the rope, one of the best fielders in the game as well, then the situation with Stokesy, where it hit the bat and went for four – that will never be seen again, but for all that to happen during a World Cup final is remarkable.”England’s glory will live long in the memoryGettyWoakes and England’s gloryThe victory in 2019 for Eoin Morgan‘s men was the pinnacle of a total rebuild under the Irishman.When Morgan became captain of the white-ball side in 2015, the ODI team were in a dire state.But over four years leading up to the World Cup, England became the best ODI team on the planet.They started the World Cup poorly with back-to-back defeats, but once they hit their stride, England were nigh on unstoppable.Yet the final was one of the most dramatic events in cricket history.New Zealand reached 241-8 after their 50 overs, and in response, England were 86-4 before Ben Stokes managed to take the hosts through to tie the match and take it to a super over.Stokes was the hero in the 2019 World Cup finalGetty Images - GettyIt was an incredible innings, but the drama was throughout and included Trent Boult catching him but stepping on the rope and Stokes accidentally diverting the ball to the boundary while throwing in a full-length dive to make his ground.It proved crucial as those runs helped England take the game to a super over, where they won.It sparked wild celebrations, with Woakes heavily involved having played a huge role in England’s transformationThe AshesWoakes is adamant that England can finally win Down Under and re-claim The Ashes urn.He said: “It is always difficult going Down Under. It is never easy going there in those conditions – they are so strong there.“It feels like we’ve got a great opportunity. We’ve got a great opportunity to go there, and do something special.“It feels weird standing on the other side of the fence and say with confidence, we are going to win.“I genuinely think we’ve got a great chance, and I think we will [win]. “The team is building and going in the right direction. We haven’t quite got over the line in the big series, but I feel like this one could be the time.”