Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes' path to England's side was never a sprint; he outlasted rivals through sheer reliability. In the 2019 World Cup final it was his early wickets that pegged back New Zealand's top order, a quiet but crucial contribution to the title. He rarely dominated headlines, yet for more than a decade he was the bowler captains turned to when the ball was swinging and discipline mattered.

His greatest asset is the ability to move the new ball at pace and then close an innings with miserly death overs. His batting has produced far more than most number eights offer, including an unbeaten 137 against India at Lord's in 2018, his maiden Test century. In the 2023 Ashes he returned mid-series and changed its course, taking match-winning wickets at Headingley and The Oval. At Warwickshire, his county since boyhood, he sets the standard for a young attack with a calm word and a clear plan, embodying the honest, workmanlike spirit of English cricket.