Woakes happy in his own skin

Warwickshire's Chris Woakes took full advantage of the 28 overs of play on a rainy day in Derbyshire

Chris Woakes shrugged off any personal ambitions to express his delight at helping expose West Indies' top order in their final warm-up match.

The 20-year-old Warwickshire seamer continued his impressive form in county cricket last season, when he claimed 42 LV= County Championship wickets, to claim 4-26 as West Indies slumped to 76 for four during their match against England Lions at Derby.

Woakes was the pick of an attack during an opening day restricted to only 28 overs in front of watching England coach Andy Flower in West Indies' final outing before next week's opening npower Test at Lord's.

Woakes was concentrating on keeping West Indies under pressure after they were dismissed for a lowly 146 against Essex at Chelmsford last week.

"From a personal point of view, it's a good time to impress and shine and show people what I can do, but it's more about putting West Indies on the back foot for the Test match starting next week," said Woakes.

"I think about two or three balls in every over I probably bowled too short because if you bowl a bit fuller on that pitch you tend to get the edges. I think we've started well and hopefully we can carry on taking wickets in the morning."

Woakes' success last season led him to be selected by England for a month-long strength and conditioning course at the IMG Academy in Miami, which is normally used to help the development of their young golfers and tennis players.

"We had four weeks intense training which were the hardest four weeks I've ever done, but I'm hoping it will keep me injury-free for the season," he said.

"It was pure strength and conditioning. Some of the other lads on the trip think it benefited them greatly and I'm feeling the benefits.

Woakes puts his impressive start to the season down to a winter spent working on fitness and technique

"I didn't bowl between the end of the season and January so it was a good three months and I feel like I'm fitter than I have ever been."

Woakes followed the Florida excursion with a trip to Dennis Lillee's fast bowling Academy in India in the new year.

And he believes his winter has helped in his development as he attempts to add extra pace to his ability to swing the ball in favourable conditions - as he proved on the opening day at the County Ground.

"I don't think I need to put on another 10mph because I'm never going to be a 90mph bowler and I don't want to get quicker and lose my ability to swing the ball," he said.

"It's all about keeping that and getting a bit quicker as well. At international level you do have to bowl a little quicker but at the same time if you're accurate and can swing the ball that's a massive benefit."

Despite his early promise in domestic cricket, Woakes admits his inclusion in the 30-man squad for England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign, which is due to be whittled down to a final 15-strong party today, came as a surprise.

"It's a bit of a shock, really," admitted Woakes. "I didn't expect it but it is a step in the right direction.

"Last year was a bit unexpected for me. I didn't expect to do as well as I did and I was pleased with the way it went.

"This year I didn't really know what to expect but I wanted to carry on doing what I had been doing and hopefully take wickets."