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After being out of England's Test team for over a year due to injury and not being selected, Chris Woakes made a late but crucial comeback against Australia. In the third Test at Headingley, he took six wickets, including well-established batters, and also scored the winning runs, helping England secure a nerve-wracking victory and stay in the series.

Now, in the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Woakes took four wickets on the opening day, putting England in a strong position to level the series. If they win this match, it will set up an exciting final match at The Kia Oval on July 27.

Woakes last played a home Test at The Kia Oval in September 2021, and his impressive performances in the recent matches have likely earned him a place in the upcoming games. In Manchester, he dismissed key Australian players, including David Warner, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey.

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Despite his reputation as a nice person off the field, Woakes has been a formidable opponent for the Australian team, taking ten wickets in just three innings during the series. His overall Test record in England stands at 104 wickets in 27 matches, with an average of 22.31.

In the recent Test match, despite Stuart Broad reaching his 600th Test wicket and Mark Wood dismissing Steve Smith, it was Chris Woakes who emerged as the standout performer for England.

Atherton: Woakes never lets you down

Michael Atherton, a commentator from Sky Sports Cricket, praised Chris Woakes for his outstanding performance, taking four wickets during the match. Atherton mentioned that Woakes often gets overshadowed, but he has been a tremendous cricketer for England, consistently delivering solid performances.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, another pundit on Sky Cricket, also commended Woakes, stating that he was the standout bowler of the day. Ponting believed that Woakes asked the most difficult questions to the Australian batsmen and got the most movement off the pitch.

Woakes' success, along with Mark Wood's inclusion in the team, has strengthened England's bowling attack significantly throughout the series. Thanks to Woakes' impact, the series is shaping up to be a competitive one and may go down to the wire.