Lion at home, Woakes hopes to come good in the Ashes

England heads into the Ashes as the favourite, but Woakes has warned his team-mates they can only regain the urn from Australia if they play at their best throughout the series.

The Warwickshire seamer was named in a 14-man squad on Saturday for this week’s opening Test at Edgbaston and is vying for a place in the attack with Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad.

Woakes, fresh from a career-best haul of six for 17 against Ireland at Lord’s on Friday, may get the nod on his home ground in Birmingham but knows whatever the make-up of the team, England will have its work cut out over five Tests to deny Australia a first away Ashes series win since 2001.

“You’re always going to be labelled favourite at home,” Woakes told The Daily Mail. “But Australia always bring over a fantastic side and we lost 4-0 over there last time (in the winter of 2017-18). It’s slightly different with home conditions but I’m sure they’ll be positive and will feel they can come over and get one over on us as well. It’ll be tough and we need to play our best cricket.”

Woakes had a tough Ashes tour two winters ago, taking 10 wickets at an average of 49.50. That was actually better than his overall average away from England, which stands at 61.77.