As England values the assault leader, Chris Woakes must confront his inner-city demons.

For the first time in eight years, England batsman is set to play in Asian Test problems.

Most athletes use the phrase "humble-brag," referring to their outstanding stats to avoid coming off as haughty. Last month, Chris Woakes defied protocol:" My ahead record speaks for itself", he said, while conceding that his outside Test occupation was perhaps over. With 36 innings at 51.88 in 20 away Checks, he had a place.

But 15 months afterward, Woakes finds himself preparing not only to enjoy in England's earliest Test against Pakistan, but to guide their ball strike. He will have to fight scorching-hot problems in Multan from Monday, where he will enjoy his first aside Test in two-and-a-half decades and his first in Asia since 2016.

Few would have anticipated this scenario when England lasttoured Pakistan two years ago, with Stuart Broad missing on paternity left and James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, and Mark Wood all flourishing. However, Woakes has been recalled as the improbable spear because Anderson and Broad have retired, Robinson has been sidelined, and Wood has been hurt.

Before going to Pakistan, Woakes reacted to some of his earlier self-criticism, telling the Guardian that he thought some of the criticism for his foreign policy had been too severe. " I know what I'm ready of", he said. " The fact that I was chosen suggests that I am fairly good, and from a knowledge standpoint, I have a lot of it- more but now than ever in my job."

England's rationale for selecting Woakes is multi-faceted. His participation is in recognition of his performance in their household summer, and it is based on the belief, or wish, that he is a better bowling than when he last played on the road. It is also invaluable from a team building perspective: in Ben Stokes ' absence, he is the only practical No. 7 in a team with five batsmen.

Maybe balance is the most important consideration. England were thrown out of their situation earlier this year because of Harrison ' limited availability as a professional flour. 7, they had to deal there. Their earlier in the line relied so heavily on Joe Root's offspin that his bat-to-ball output fell short due to their batter-heavy balance.

In England's most current series against Sri Lanka, Woakes averaged 9.20 in a trim series. At No., he is definitely one place above ideal. 7, but his position is often about relationship batting and allowing the best six to preserve their natural intensity: stands of 106 and 52 with Jamie Smith this summer underlined his worth in a pivot place.

He may even continue to start the bowling- a role which may match him much better than the one he has filled in the majority of his absent Tests, as a change bowler behind Anderson and Broad. " He'll get the opportunity with the new ball over here, which is something that he should enjoy a lot more", Brendon McCullum, England's coach, said on Sunday.

" I'm really, really impressed with how Woakesy's been able to operate for us since he's taken up the' leader of the attack ' mantle", McCullum added. " Throughout the English summer, when the ball was flat, he was still able to use his skill and knowledge to get the ball to reverse-swing, and challengers]batters ] in different ways. Add his batting to that, and his leadership qualities, and he becomes a pretty important player for us".

Ollie Pope, who will captain in Stokes ' absence, believes that Woakes will be able to replicate Anderson's" control" which underpinned England's success in the first two Tests of the 2022 series. " It's a great opportunity for him to fill in that role and use the skills that he's got with reverse]swing], movement off the pitch and different angles on the pitch", Pope said.

Woakes may also benefit from substantially different conditions to those England experienced in Multan two years ago, when they toured two months later in the year. Although the pitch has a healthy covering of grass and has been prepared on instruction to highlight Pakistan's seamers, the temperatures are significantly higher this time around, reaching 40 degrees.

According to McCullum," We're going to have to make sure we adapt to the circumstances,"" I think they look a lot different from what we played on a few years ago." We just need to be quite malleable with our plans and adapt as quickly as we can, according to the captain," there is a little more live grass on the wicket than what we saw throughout all three Test matches]in 2022."

Woakes will be aware of the intangibles that might favor him, but he must show that he can finally be successful abroad, as his admission is that the statistics do not flatter the viewer. If he succeeds, this tour could be the start of a late-career resurgence which culminates in next winter's Ashes, if not, it will be the postscript to an unhappy chapter of an otherwise fine career.