WOAKES SLINGS HOOK

Hero Chris calls it a day after stellar international career

- BY RORY DOLLARD

CHRIS WOAKES has announced his retirement from international cricket, a matter of days after England indicated he was no longer in their plans.

Woakes' final act for his country was walking out to bat against India at The Oval last month, one-handed and with his arm in a sling, having dislocated his shoulder in the field.

That injury ruled him out of consideration for this winter's Ashes tour to Australia and, at the age of 36, effectively brought down the curtain on his time with England.

Rob Key, managing director of men's cricket at the ECB, said last week that Woakes (inset) - nicknamed Wiz - was unlikely to feature again and the all-rounder has opted to call it time.