“I thought Chris Woakes’ inclusion in the last 3 Tests was the change that set the scene for England” : Brad Hogg 

Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes that Chris Woakes played a pivotal role in England’s remarkable turnaround during the second half of the 2023 Ashes series. Despite featuring in only three out of five Tests, the right-handed all-rounder was named England’s player of the series, underscoring the significant impact he had on the team’s performance.

Woakes showcased his all-round abilities, taking 19 wickets across the three Tests and making valuable contributions with the bat, including a match-winning cameo in the third Test at Headingley, Leeds. On the final day of the series, he crucially dismissed both the Aussie opening batters, sparking the momentum shift in England’s favor.

Hogg emphasized that the majority of Woakes’ wickets in the series were crucial, indicating his effectiveness in pivotal moments. The English all-rounder displayed his prowess with the replacement ball, which was made available late on Day 4 of the series. The new ball offered more movement and bounce, helping England make a comeback when the Australian openers seemed to be comfortably coasting towards the target.

Brad Hogg in his YT video said “I thought Chris Woakes’ inclusion in the last three Tests was the change that set the scene for England. He dominated with the ball with 19 wickets and the majority of those were top six batters.” 

“I was a little upset about that ball change in the fifth Test. At the end of the day, Australia had a little fortune when Mitchell Marsh got a change of ball in Headingley and got a wicket straightaway. So, you cannot complain in those instances,” he added.