England All-Rounder Chris Woakes Bags ICC Men's Player Of The Month Award For July 2023

English all-rounder Chris Woakes has won the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for July 2023, capping off a fantastic Ashes series performance.
Woakes, who was named Player of the Series during the Ashes, has won the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for July 2023, beating out difficult competitors such as fellow countryman Zak Crawley and Netherlands' exceptional performer Bas de Leede.

"It's an honour to be named ICC Men's Player of the Month for July." "Everything we did in the Ashes was a team effort, and no individual awards would be possible if everyone else wasn't doing their job, but it's always nice to be recognised, especially when it's a public vote," Woakes told the ICC.

"It was a great series, and I'm just glad it captured the public's imagination and attention so well." "It was fantastic to have so much support, and it was a fantastic series to play in," he continued.

Woakes was away from the pitch for the first two Tests of the series. England needed a quick and major effect from the incoming players to revitalise their campaign as they faced a daunting 0-2 deficit heading into the third Test at Headingley. Woakes made the most of this occasion.

Woakes showcased his skill upon his return to Test cricket after a year's layoff by taking three wickets in each innings. Among those dismissed were prominent batsmen such as Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja.

His contribution, though, went beyond bowling. Woakes played a crucial role in keeping England's series chances alive with an essential undefeated score of 32 in a nail-biting chase.

Woakes continued his stellar performance in the fourth Test, taking five wickets in the first innings for his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Unfortunately, the weather finally decided the outcome of the match, with rain falling on the last day and the Manchester Test ending in a tie.

Woakes finished the series on a high note by being named Man of the Match in the last Test at The Oval. In the first innings, the 34-year-old showed his versatility by scoring 36 runs on just as many balls. Furthermore, he continued to create havoc with the ball, demonstrating his bowling prowess once more.