Chris Woakes is targeting a leading role in the Ashes but is not "ruling anything out" after becoming the senior seamer following James Anderson's retirement. (More Cricket News)
Anderson, England's leading wicket-ta🀅ker, played his 188th and final Test in an innings win over the West Indies at Lord's this week.
In the second Test at Trent Bridge next week, where Woakes could make his landmark 50th cap, he will also be the 𒉰senior figure in the England chang꧅ing room.
However, Woakes' record in overseas Tests is much lower, getting just 36 at 🍸58.11, compared to at home, where he has 114 for 22.04, leaving him unsure if he will b♔e one of the openers in Australia next year.
"I just don't rule anything out," Woakes said.
"It'd be hard for me to ju🍨st stand here and say I'll be the opening bowler in that Ashes – obviously my away record probably isn't as good as my home.
"🗹Butღ at the same time, I've looked at Stuart [Broad] and Jimmy [Anderson] evolve as they've got older. And I still hope that I can potentially do the same, but I said I don't look too far ahead.
"I've always looked throughout my England ca♑reer as just looking at the 💟very next event, the very next game, the very next series and trying to be in the best shape possible for that game, that series. I think as soon as you start looking too far ahead, you get caught up in it."
England captain Ben Stokes is shifting the focus to a younger crop🧔, with Gus Atkinson impressing on his debut as he took 12 wickets against the West Indies.
With Stokes targeting the As𝕴hes as England's next goal, Woakes🦋 is keen to be involved with the team, while helping the younger players coming through.
"You're going to see a lot more new players coming into the team or new bowlers and give guys opportunit𓆉y, which is obviou꧂sly what's required to move forward," Woakes added.
"Obviously, it'll be slightly differen☂t if I was given the new ball, your role slightly changes and the majority of my career I've🐠 come on first change.
"Whenever there is a new guy coming into the team, you still try and pass🅘 on a little bit of knowledge, and I've been a🍌round for long enough to be able to hopefully do that.
"Maybe I need to do that a littleᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ bit more now as Stu and Jim have finished, but particularly on the field, maybe more so than off it."
