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England skipper Ben Stokes admitted to a leadership void in their pace attack after the retirement of James Anderson and Stuart Broad over the past 12 months ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in Trent Bridge, starting July 18. While Broad walked into sunset at the end of the 2023 Ashes, Anderson retired from international cricket after England's first Test win by an innings and 114 runs at Lord's.
The legendary duo finished with an incredible 1,308 combined wickets in Tests with Anderson the third all-time leading wicket-taker and Broad the fifth all-time.
Addressing the Anderson-Broad void in the press conference on the eve of the second Test against the West Indies, Stokes backed Chris Woakes to lead the English pace attack.
"I see it (James Anderson's retirement) as an opportunity for someone like Chris Woakes to take up the leadership role in the bowling unit. Woaksy is a very experienced bowler, a very experienced player. We have been so used to Jimmy and Broady doing that. But we don't have them now. I see that as an opportunity for Woaksy. (Woakes has been) A phenomenal performer, especially in England and great for him now to lead the attack," said Stokes.
The second Test will be Woakes' 50th of his red-ball career, with 29 coming at home.
The 35-year-old boasts an impressive overall bowling record in Tests with 150 wickets at an average of 29.20. Woakes' home record is even better with 114 scalps at an average of 22.04.
"There is no doubt that there has been emotions with Jimmy" - Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes admitted that the emotions were still running high among the players on James Anderson's retirement in the lead-up to the second Test in Nottingham.
The 41-year-old enjoyed a terrific farewell outing, with overall match figures of 4/58 in 26.4 overs.
"I think it has been a very, very smooth transition. But there is no doubt that there has been emotions with Jimmy. But with him still being around the team, I think he still knows that he has so much more to offer to the game with the ball. Couldn't think of a better bloke to be able to pass on the knowledge of fast bowling to the guys we have with us at the moment," said Stokes.
Anderson finished his Test career with an extraordinary 704 wickets, only four behind second-place Shane Warne, at an average of 26.45 in 188 games.
The champion pacer debuted for England in 2002 and finished with almost 1,000 international wickets across formats.
