England has recalled allrounder Chris Woakes for the second Test against the West Indies at Headingley, captain Joe Root announced on Thursday.
Woakes replaces Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones in the only change to the side that thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 209 runs inside three days during last week’s inaugural day/night Test in England at Edgbaston.
Woakes had become a mainstay in all three international formats, but a side strain suffered barely two overs into England’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at The Oval in June put him out of action for 11 weeks.
But during England’s recent 3-1 home series win over South Africa, Woakes’s place as third seamer went to Roland-Jones, who took eight wickets on debut at The Oval.
The 28-year-old Woakes was in England’s squad for the first Test against the West Indies but lost out on his Birmingham home ground to Roland-Jones. Since his injury, Woakes has managed one First-Class match. His five-wicket haul and a second innings fifty during Warwickshire’s First Division County win over Middlesex at Lord’s led to his inclusion in England’s squad for the series opener.