NOTTINGHAM: England all-rounder Chris Woakes believes he has more to offer on the international stage after an impressive display in a tied one-day series opener against Sri Lanka.

Woakes’ unbeaten 95 under the Trent Bridge floodlights on Tuesday was, remarkably, his maiden fifty in 116 limited overs appearances for both Warwickshire and England.

It was also the highest score by a number eight batsman in One-day International history.

Liam Plunkett may have secured the tie in dramatic style with six off the last ball, but without Woakes’ runs England, who finished on 286 for eight, would have been well beaten.

The 27-year-old Woakes was named man-of-the-match after also taking two for 56 with his increasingly lively seam bowling.

It has long been asserted that it is tough for a bowler to become significantly quicker once he is established as a professional.

But the past few years have seen Woakes become appreciably faster — and, as a result, more threatening to international batsmen.

“It’s been a long process with a couple of technical things: firstly with my front arm and also with my run up,” he explained.

“It was quite laboured in my run up but now I have more pace in it and more energy at the crease.

“It feels like the norm now but it hasn’t happened overnight — it took two years, maybe two-and-a-half.”

A veteran of 44 ODIs, Woakes may not have been playing at all on Tuesday had fellow all-rounder Ben Stokes been fit.

But with Friday’s second game in the five-match series at his Edgbaston home ground, Woakes is determined to prove that his Trent Bridge display was no flash in the pan.

“I feel like my best years are ahead of me,” said Woakes. “I feel more established as an England cricketer.”

“I should have more ODI 50s — I have too many 40s. It’s nice to get that monkey off my back.”

As for nearly becoming the first number eight to score an ODI century, Woakes said: “You would have thought someone had smacked a hundred from there before.

“I was surprised, and it’s brilliant to have that — I hope I can beat it in the future.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2016