Woakes: We have the skills to win the World Cup

Cricket365
September 8, 2014

England fast bowler Chris Woakes has taken heart from the way his team-mates ended the long series against India, saying they have enough time to build on their wins ahead of the World Cup.

With nothing but one-dayers leading up to the ICC event in February next year, England will need to work hard in that format, after losing the one-day series to India three-one. But they won the fifth match, and then took the one-off T20.

The paceman, who bowled the final over in the T20, and prevented defeat, told Sky Sports News HQ, when asked if England could claim the ICC trophy: "Yes, 100 per cent.

"We have got to become more consistent and we have got to improve our skills in certain areas, but we have got six months to focus on it.

"There is no Test cricket between now and then – it is all one-day cricket – so hopefully we can improve our skills, go to Sri Lanka, do well there, and then move on to Australia and do well in the World Cup.

"We have got a long time to improve our skills and hopefully we can do that."

When asked about the criticism the team has endured, especially during the ODI series, Woakes said: "We try not to talk about outside influences.

"Everyone has their opinion, and they can say what they want, but all that matters is that we in the changing room are trying to do the job in hand and win games for England.

"We didn't have the best one-day series, we didn't play our best cricket – we know that – but I thought we finished strongly at Headingley and showed glimpses of what we are capable of.

"It's just being more consistent in the one-day game, I think. And to beat India at a game which they are very good at – T20 cricket – I thought we did really well and if we can become more consistent we will win more games of cricket."