Woakes Decries Umpire Calls as England Misses Early Chance Against India

Woakes Laments Close Calls as England Fails to Capitalize Against India

Chris Woakes expressed his frustration with the third umpire's decisions during the first morning of the Edgbaston Test against India. The English fast bowler believed he had secured two early wickets, but reviews went against him, leaving him feeling that the game could have been very different.

Woakes picked up a couple of wickets for England on the opening day. © Getty

The incident that triggered Woakes's reaction involved Karun Nair. Woakes felt he had trapped Nair leg-before-wicket with a delivery that nipped back sharply. Despite the impact being outside off-stump, Woakes was convinced Nair hadn't offered a shot, prompting Ben Stokes to call for a review. However, the replay showed the ball only clipping the top of the off-stump, leading to the umpire's original not-out decision being upheld.

Woakes later stated that, in his opinion, if a batter doesn't offer a shot and the ball hits the stumps, the decision should favor the bowler.

"I need to be careful: I've had some [decisions] go my way over the years," Woakes acknowledged during the post-day press conference. "In general, DRS has been good for the game. A lot more right decisions are given [than before]. The only thing I would like to come in is that if a batsman decides to leave the ball and it's still hitting the stumps, I think that should be out - regardless if it's clipping or not."

Just prior to the Nair incident, Yashasvi Jaiswal also benefited from a close call that went to review. Woakes struck Jaiswal on the front pad, and was convinced that the ball had pitched in line. Stokes reviewed, but replays showed the ball barely brushing the top of the leg-stump, resulting in another not-out decision.

"We could have easily had them 30 for 3," Woakes lamented, referring to the two close calls. "It was a pretty frustrating morning, really. Obviously emotions run high when you are desperate to do well for the team, do well for yourself and it would've been nice... had those decisions gone our way, the day looks completely different, but that is Test cricket and we move on."

Despite the favorable batting conditions, India managed to reach 310/5 by the end of the day, with Shubman Gill scoring a century.

Woakes did find success with a strategic change, bowling from wide of the crease. While it didn't work against Nair, it proved effective against Nitish Reddy, who shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped back in to hit the stumps.

After a disappointing return to the Test side at Leeds, Woakes enjoyed a more productive day at Edgbaston, finishing with figures of 2-59 from 21 overs.

"It felt like the stumps were in play all day," Woakes explained. "It didn't feel like a massive nick-off wicket, to be honest; it didn't feel like it had the pace in it for that... It was something which we were looking for. Basically, it was trying to find the right length that allowed you to be full enough not to get driven, but still bring the stumps into play."

Woakes also expressed his appreciation for playing at his home ground: "Across a career, you don't get that many games at your home venue: this is my fourth Test match here. They are really special weeks. You have a lot of friends and family in the ground, and I've got a lot of love for Warwickshire which goes deep. It's all I've ever known... There's a lot of people behind the scenes who support you through the good times and the bad," he concluded.