Chris Woakes

England paceman Chris Woakes said Friday that Virat Kohli's decision to play for Surrey will raise the standard of English county cricket, as the Indian skipper faces criticism for missing a landmark Test. Kohli will skip Afghanistan's first-ever Test, in Bangalore against India, to play county cricket in preparation for a high-profile England tour starting July -- a decision India's cricket board has defended. Woakes, his teammate at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, also welcomed the star batsman's decision to play in the English championship.