Still, there is a fair bit packed in, as you would expect from a 14-year England career that saw him overcome early doubts \u2013 and some pretty harsh judgments \u2013 to experience some dizzying heights. Moeen Ali called him the \u201cbest teammate you could wish for\u201d, and the same goes when collaborating on a book.<\/p>\n
We first properly crossed paths in 2016. I had just moved to Birmingham, Chris was newly recalled to the England Test squad, and after an interview before a day\u2019s play at Edgbaston, I sheepishly requested a second attempt at stumps. Chris had whistled up a career-best nine for 36 in between, rather torching my first draft and hinting at what would become his breakthrough summer in Test cricket.<\/p>\n
The idea for a book came up around three years ago, but it took a while to come to fruition. A three-format all-rounder with an Indian Premier League deal and two young children tends not to be flush with spare time. A central contract also meant being subject to England\u2019s red pen. Best to wait until that was no longer the case.<\/p>\n
Chris already had a great story to tell at that point though, as a state-school-educated, one-club man who, among other things, became a two-time World Cup winner. He had also rescued Bazball\u2019s bacon that summer, collecting the Compton-Miller medal as player of the series in the 2023 Ashes.<\/p>\n
Although neither of us could have predicted the spark that turned the idea into reality: that final morning at the Oval last year when Chris walked out to bat as a one-armed No 11. Through David Luxton, a leading literary agent, and with interest piqued by that dramatic finale, we met our excellent publishers at Michael Joseph.<\/p>\n
Chris Woakes walks out to bat against India at the Oval with his left arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/p>\n
Ghostwriting is nothing new in the world of autobiographies. But being a first-timer meant seeking the advice of some press-box colleagues \u2013 even if I already knew the brief was to include as little of me and as much of him as possible.<\/p>\n
Without naming names I had also heard the odd horror story of sportspeople giving their ghostwriter a mere handful of hours, leaving yawning gaps to be filled with poetic licence. Apparently some subjects do not even read what comes out the other end, happy for their agent to sign off and cash the cheque. Pah.<\/p>\n
It had to be 100% his story and, just as importantly, his voice the one telling it. My role was to pull at threads from the past, check that memory had not played tricks, and then chisel out the words for him to read back and tweak. Much like his cricket, Chris was meticulous.<\/p>\n
After settling on a structure \u2013 starting with the Oval, before looping back for a semi-chronological timeline pegged around themes \u2013 we spent the best part of three months either speaking or meeting up semi-regularly. Cafes, the odd pub, even each other\u2019s front rooms \u2013 every chapter involved a lot of talking.<\/p>\n
What helped was Chris having excellent recall and being a trustworthy eyewitness to events. His career has also spanned a time of significant change in the game. He made his first-class debut in 2006, when county cricket was a player\u2019s bread and butter and an England cap the ultimate goal. He is winding down in an era when franchise cricket offers varied and lucrative options, although he has continued to put Warwickshire first.<\/p>\n
Dressing rooms and coaching styles have also transformed, with Chris starting his England career in Andy Flower\u2019s school of hard knocks and signing off in Brendon McCullum\u2019s school of golf-bro rock. Those contrasting styles were what he needed at the time, he says, as was the homespun clarity of Trevor Bayliss in between.<\/p>\n
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