Chris Woakes ankle injury leaves the door open for an England debutant against Zimbabwe next month

• Chris Woakes is unlikely to be fit in time for England’s first test this summer 
• Woakes’ ankle injury may pave the way for an England debutant next month
• The Three Lions face Zimbabwe on May 22 through May 25 at Trent Bridge 

By RICHARD GIBSON

Chris Woakes is struggling to prove his fitness ahead of England’s first Test of six this summer – increasing the likelihood of the uncapped Sam Cook making his international debut against Zimbabwe next month.

Woakes, 36, has been troubled by an ankle injury since returning from the SA20 in February and privately acknowledges that he might not be ready to prove his fitness in a County Championship fixture against Yorkshire at Headingley on May 2.

That would leave the 181-wicket Test seamer with just a home match against champions Surrey the following week to gain match sharpness for the four-day contest versus the Zimbabweans at Trent Bridge, starting on May 22.

Woakes played in half of England’s six Tests over the winter and then featured in half of the 10 league matches played by Durban’s Super Giants, missing the last three before beginning his rehab back in Birmingham.

With Mark Wood and Olly Stone already out until August through long-term injuries and Brydon Carse struggling to overcome a wound that keeps reopening on his left pointer toe, England will not want to take any undue risks at the beginning of a run that includes a five-match home series against India and an away Ashes on players who are not 100 per cent.

They have therefore dipped into their bowling reserves, putting Essex seamer Cook on notice for a first international cap by pulling him out of the Championship Division One contest with Worcestershire on Friday.

Cook, 27, has 318 first-class victims at under 20 runs apiece and was the best England Lions bowler on winter tour of Australia, taking three for 58 in the one-off Test defeat to Australia A. 

Chris Woakes’ ankle injury is likely to keep him out of England’s first summer test next month

The uncapped Sam Cook is poised to step in and make his Three Lions debut vs Zimbabwe 

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Chris Woakes ankle injury leaves the door open for an England debutant against Zimbabwe next month

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