Chris Woakes reveals how killjoy Ashes hero Ashley Giles stopped England stars celebrating World Cup triumph – and takes aim at ECB for ‘bottling’ open top bus parade

In extracts from his autobiography The Wizard, England all-rounder Chris Woakes criticized the ECB for failing to organize an open-top bus parade after their 2019 World Cup victory. Woakes compared the historic achievement to the 2005 Ashes triumph, arguing that the governing body missed a major opportunity to connect with fans and properly celebrate the nation's first men's 50-over title.

Woakes also revealed that then-director of cricket Ashley Giles enforced a strict midnight curfew at the team hotel after the Lord's final against New Zealand. Despite protests from senior players who wanted to celebrate in central London, Giles refused to lift the restriction, leaving the squad feeling aggrieved over what Woakes described as needless caution.