The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to withdraw their top bowling all-rounder, Chris Woakes, from the ongoing The Hundred. This move follows an injury sustained by England’s Test captain Ben Stokes ahead of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 21. The ECB’s decision to pull Woakes from the tournament is a precautionary step to ensure he remains fit and ready for the upcoming Test series.
The Birmingham Phoenix took to their official Instagram handle and said, “The England bowling all-rounder will no longer be a part of this year’s competition due to an injury.” The 35-year-old will miss the team’s final two group-stage matches as the ECB has decided to withdraw him as a precaution ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. This decision comes after concerns about Test captain Ben Stokes being ruled out of the English summer due to a hamstring injury which could jeopardize his availability for the first Test against Sri Lanka on August 21 at Old Trafford.
Impact on Birmingham Phoenix’s Playoff Hopes in The Hundred
Woakes’ absence is a significant setback for Birmingham Phoenix, who are still in contention for a top-three finish in The Hundred. Although they are currently on a three-match winning streak, including a notable victory against the Rockets, their chances of securing a playoff spot are still uncertain. 
Currently, Birmingham Phoenix sits in third place on the points table with ten points and a net run rate of +0.324, having won five out of their seven games. The first Test between England and Sri Lanka is set to begin on Wednesday, August 21, at Emirates Old Trafford, followed by the remaining two Tests at Lord’s and Kennington Oval.
Interestingly, none of England’s key bowlers from the final two Tests against the West Indies have participated in The Hundred this season. Gus Atkinson has been with the Oval Invincibles squad but has not been selected to play. Additionally, Shoaib Bashir and Mark Wood do not have contracts in the competition. Bashir has only appeared once for Somerset in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, while Wood has yet to feature for Durham.
The ECB has clarified that Woakes’ withdrawal from The Hundred is unrelated to the hamstring injury sustained by Ben Stokes while playing for the Northern Superchargers. The decision to pull Woakes was made before Stokes’ injury. However, with Stokes now likely to miss the Sri Lanka series, Woakes is expected to take on a more prominent role as England’s primary all-rounder in the upcoming Tests.
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