Woakes talks Warwickshire’s title-winning campaign

Chris Woakes came through the age groups at Warwickshire, before impressing for the first team. Those performances led to him carving out an outstanding career for England.

After ten years, he retired from international cricket following the summer of 2025, with the all-rounder returning to the Bears, playing a key role in the Club’s ninth County Championship triumph this season.

Woakes is now a three-time Championship winner himself, and during the celebrations on Saturday, after Warwickshire had lifted the coveted trophy, he spoke about the latest title, teammates and coaches, and what it means to contribute to a winning effort.

Woakes on…winning a third County Championship title at Edgbaston

“It’s been an amazing year. I’m just delighted for everyone involved. It’s been a real squad effort. People behind the scenes. It’s something you think about early doors in pre-season. You start having meetings about the Championship and how you’re going to win it and what you’re going to do. To get to this stage of the season with a home game and a last home game at Edgbaston and win it in the fashion we have, has just been incredible.

“It was like it was meant to be I suppose. Everyone has been phenomenal. Today, to have the fans here behind us who have been with us all season. When there’s a Championship on the line, the fans come out in full force and it was nice to have them behind us, and to obviously do it in front of them.”

Woakes on…winning five of the last six

“This last block of six matches, to win five out of six has been incredible really. We always knew that this last run of fixtures was always a chance where we could really push for a title, but early on in the season, teams are generally a bit more conservative and you make sure you don’t lose.

“We played some really good cricket without probably getting over the line in some games. To get to this stage of the season and win five out of six is just incredible. It’s unheard of really. Four-day games are so hard to win. To win five out of six in the manner that we have, it’s hard to find words for it.”

Woakes on…the Bears going under the radar

“A lot of the time, in particular this season, we’ve probably gone under the radar a little bit. I don’t think people looked at us and saw us as a huge threat. We always believed in the dressing room that we had the side that could go on and win a Championship, but to go on and do it, and believe it, is very different.”

Woakes on…the future of this Bears squad

“There are some young players within that group that this will only be a good thing for. Winning an early Championship will give them that experience for when that opportunity arises again. It’s great to have that under your belt. The squad and the side can only get better really.

“Of course you’ve got some old heads, but also, you’ve got some young players that are going to be here for a long time to come, and a core group of that sort of age, around 25 to 27, that could be here for a long period of time. Signs are bright.”

Woakes on…Ethan Bamber

“It’s been a pleasure to bowl the other end to him. Generally, he gets early poles, which means you’re bowling at guys in the middle order with a new ball. I’m running out of things to say about him, because he’s been amazing, and he deserves it.

“A lot of it is what people don’t see. He’s the first one in the gym, the last one at training, he’s always trying to improve, he’s always setting such high standards for himself. He really deserves those rewards. To take 69, in a 14-game season is just proper. It’s top order wickets that he’s been getting, he’s been getting good players out, and always looks threatening. I’m really pleased for him.”

Woakes on…Head Coach Ian Westwood

“I obviously played with him. He gave me this very cap 17 years ago on this ground. To now see him as Head Coach, the way he goes about it and the way the boys get around him. His style of coaching has been perfect for this group. I know the lads love him. He asks tough questions at times but only wants the lads to improve and get better.

“We didn’t have a great year from a white ball perspective in terms of what we demand of ourselves, but the red ball stuff, we’ve looked threatening all year, and it’s the big one. It’s what you prioritise at the start of the year, and Westy has been a big part of that. Getting the team in the right place, obviously the recruitment side of things, building a bowling attack that can last 14 games and just delighted for him. He’s a Bear through and through, he’s won Championships himself and now to have one as Head Coach is really pleasing.”

Woakes on…Club Captain Ed Barnard

“He took over the reins at the start of the year, maybe slightly out of the blue, but the way he’s took the group forward and spoken in the dressing room. He’s led with performances, and he’s the sort of cricketer that’s always in the game; with bat, ball and in the field. He’s delivered that for the group. He’s quite a quiet person, but when he speaks in the dressing room, he speaks with authority, and the lads are fully behind him. It just shows how good we’ve been under him, but also what we can be going forward.”

Woakes on…the County Championship being the pinnacle of domestic cricket

“You’ve got to be good for a whole season, you can’t afford to slip up. I think we lost at Sussex early in the season, then to have not lost a game since, that’s how you win Championships. It’s by being consistent across a 14-game season.

“There’s little wins here and there. You might not win a game of cricket, but you might get an extra bonus point out of nowhere where you didn’t expect to. Saving a game that you should probably lose. It’s a long old slog, and you put all the hard yards in pre-season to prepare for it, to be in with a chance in September, and we did that perfectly. It is like winning the Premier League. In my eyes, it’s the priority for a county cricket perspective.”

Woakes on…returning to the Bears following international retirement

“It’s a weird feeling retiring from international cricket. You never really want to do it. You want to play for England for the rest of your life if you can, but obviously you can’t.

“The next thing for me was figuring out what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to move on with my career. The top of my priority list was to win this Championship and bring silverware back to Warwickshire again. I’m just delighted to have been able to contribute to that. I put a priority on it.

“The team and the management have managed me well. It’s not as easy at 37 anymore, but I’m just delighted to have been able to contribute. Going out there is sometimes the easy bit. There are people behind the scenes that are putting in the hard yards. I’m delighted for lads and for the whole squad.”