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Chris Woakes Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth2 March 1989

Age35 Years

BirthplaceBirmingham, Warwickshire, England

ProfessionCricketer (Bowling all‑rounder)

NationalityBritish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAmie Louise Woakes

FamilyTwo daughters: Laila (born 2 July 2018), Evie (born 1 October 2020)

Chris Woakes Biography

Chris Woakes is an English bowling all‑rounder known for steady seam bowling, useful lower‑order batting and match‑winning performances for England and inT

Early life and background
Christopher Roger Woakes was born on 2 March 1989 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Raised in a sporting family on the edge of Walsall, he began playing organized cricket as a child and developed through local clubs including Aston Manor, Walmley Cricket Club and Four Oaks Saints. He attended Barr Beacon School in Aldridge and progressed through Warwickshire’s youth pathways. His father, Roger Woakes, played cricket at the county second‑XI level.

Career
Woakes made his first‑class debut for Warwickshire in 2006 in a match against the touring West Indies side. A right‑arm fast‑medium bowler who bats right‑handed, he emerged as a productive county performer: by age 19 he had taken 42 County Championship wickets, and in July 2011 he recorded his 200th first‑class wicket while representing Warwickshire.

International recognition followed. Woakes made his T20 international debut for England in January 2011 in Adelaide and played his first ODI later that month at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His Test debut came in August 2013 at The Oval. Over the next decade he established himself as a genuine all‑round option for England, contributing with both ball and bat in all formats.

Woakes produced several standout international performances. In 2014, on England’s tour of Sri Lanka, he recorded figures of 6 for 47 in an ODI, regarded at the time as one of the year’s best performances by a bowler. During Pakistan’s 2016 tour of England he took 11 wickets for 102 runs in the Lord’s Test and was named Player of the Series. He scored his maiden Test century at Lord’s in 2018 against India, an innings that placed him on the Lord’s honours boards and fulfilled a long‑held childhood ambition.

He played a key role in England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup campaign, taking three wickets in the semi‑final and three in the final. By June 2020 he had reached 100 Test wickets, and during England’s 2021 tour of Sri Lanka he passed 150 ODI wickets.

Woakes has also enjoyed a significant domestic and franchise career. He has represented Warwickshire and spent time with the England Lions, Herefordshire, Marylebone Cricket Club, Sydney Thunder, Wellington, Birmingham Phoenix and other sides. In the Indian Premier League he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017 and by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018. In the December 2023 IPL auction he was bought by Punjab Kings.

Injury and comeback
After England’s tour to the West Indies in 2022 Woakes reported shoulder and knee problems and a minor ankle issue that led to knee surgery. The layoff kept him out of first‑class cricket for over a year and raised uncertainty about his Test future. He returned to international form, however, and in the 2023 Ashes series took 19 wickets, earning England’s player of the series recognition.

Public profile
Woakes is commonly referred to by the nickname “The Wizard.” He is known as a reliable, team‑minded professional who views himself as an all‑rounder rather than just a bowler. Off the field, he is a keen coffee drinker who reportedly travels with a coffee machine, enjoys snooker, football and golf, and supports Aston Villa Football Club.

Personal life
Woakes is married to Amie Louise Woakes; the couple married on 10 February 2017 and have two daughters, Laila (born 2 July 2018) and Evie (born 1 October 2020). He stands around 6 feet 1 inch tall, with grey eyes and brown hair. He is British and identifies with Christianity.

Latest updates
In December 2022 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham. In December 2023 he was purchased by Punjab Kings in the 2024 IPL auction. He remains an active international and franchise cricketer, noted for contributions with both bat and ball and for match‑winning performances for England.
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Recent Work

Purchased by Punjab Kings (IPL)

Signed by Punjab Kings in the December 2023 IPL auction for the 2024 season.

2023
England player of the series — 2023 Ashes

Took 19 wickets in the 2023 Ashes and was named England’s player of the series.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Made first‑class debut for Warwickshire in 2006 against the touring West Indies
  2. T20 debut for England in January 2011; ODI debut January 2011; Test debut August 2013
  3. 6 for 47 in an ODI in Sri Lanka (2014)
  4. 11 wickets for 102 runs in Lord’s Test vs Pakistan (2016) and Player of the Series
  5. Maiden Test century at Lord’s (2018) and placed on Lord’s honours boards
  6. Key performer in England’s 2019 World Cup campaign; Player of the Match in the semi‑final
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Chris Woakes born?

2 March 1989

What is Chris Woakes known for?

Cricketer (Bowling all‑rounder)

What is Chris Woakes’s marital status?

Married

Who is Chris Woakes married to?

Amie Louise Woakes