Chris Woakes’ autobiography reveals the steel behind cricket’s ‘nicest man’

A book built around Woakes’ own voice

Chris Woakes’ new autobiography, The Wizard, grew out of years of conversations about a 14-year England career that took him from early doubts to two World Cup titles and some of the game’s biggest stages. Its co-writer says the book was designed to keep Woakes’ voice at the centre, with the author’s job to revisit memories, check details and shape the words for Woakes to review.

The pair first properly crossed paths in 2016, when Woakes had just returned to England’s Test squad. After an interview at Edgbaston, the writer asked to speak again at the end of the day. Woakes had since taken a career-best nine wickets for 36 runs, a performance that helped herald his breakthrough summer in Test cricket.

From the Oval to the hardest chapter

The idea for the book took shape around three years ago, but the project gained momentum after Woakes’ dramatic final appearance at the Oval, where he came out to bat as a one-armed No 11. The book opens with that moment before moving back through his career, including his role in England’s 2023 Ashes campaign, when he won the Compton-Miller medal as player of the series.

Across nearly three months of regular conversations, Woakes and his co-writer revisited the contrasts of a career that began in 2006: from county cricket as a central livelihood to an era shaped by lucrative franchise opportunities, and from the demanding England environment under Andy Flower to the different approaches of later coaches. Woakes’ wife, Amie, also contributed a chapter about life away from the game.

The most painful material concerned the death of Woakes’ father, Roger, in 2024. Woakes recalled waking in an overseas hotel to missed calls and the knowledge that something was wrong. The co-writer says writing that passage coincided with the sudden death of his own father, Bill. In the difficult weeks afterwards, Woakes offered practical support, helped secure a short extension to the book’s deadline and checked in regularly.

Kindness and competitive edge

Moeen Ali has called Woakes “the best teammate you could wish for”. Yet Woakes is uneasy with being described as “the nicest man in cricket”, believing the label can obscure his ambition and toughness. His co-writer argues the qualities are not in conflict: the same person can be generous away from the pitch and fiercely driven on it.

The Wizard by Chris Woakes is published by Penguin Books.