India vs England | It is sweeter to be back and performing well, says Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes earned a spot in the team for the second Test match between India and England thanks to the departure of Ben Stokes, who had to leave the English side due to the Bristol Brawl court case. Stokes proved himself to be a crucial man in the first Test as he dismissed 3 important players including Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the second innings which helped England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Woakes proved his mettle as not only did he manage to take two wickets in the first innings of the second Test, but he also scored a maiden century and helped England to mount a lead of 250 runs. He came to the crease with England 131-5, sharing a 189-run stand with Jonny Bairstow, who made 93, to put England in a commanding position. He had not played for England since June because of knee and quad injuries and being called back to the team and then scoring a century. 

“You do the hard work to get back for moments like today. It makes it sweeter to be back in the side and performing well.l didn't have it on my radar at the start of the day to be scoring a hundred. To be on both honours boards is special. Raising your bat at Lord's is what dreams are made of,” Woakes said.