England’s Chris Woakes says last year’s home defeat by India will be motivation when the teams meet in the triangular series in Brisbane on Tuesday. India won the ODI series in England 3-1 and Woakes said: “Whenever you’ve lost a series against someone before I think you’re looking for revenge almost.” England lost to Australia, the other side in the current series, by three wickets in Friday’s opening match. Gary Ballance has fractured a finger but will be fit for the World Cup. The Yorkshire batsman suffered the injury to the little finger on his right hand during fielding practice in Canberra but an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said that they would not be requiring a replacement. England, India and Australia play each other twice before the top two contest the final in Perth on 1 February, in an event regarded as a warm-up for the World Cup, which begins with England against Australia in Melbourne on 14 February. “The boys are still confident, it knocks you back a little bit but we’ll still try and play the way we have been and express ourselves,” Woakes said. “One game doesn’t change much and we’ll try and turn it round against India. “We’ll be looking to win and get ourselves back in this series which is most important.” Woakes, who was England’s leading wicket-taker with five against India last summer, was the pick of the bowlers again in Sydney on Friday with 4-40 against the Australians. “I feel like the ball’s coming out pretty well,” he said. “It’s nice to take wickets, I do feel like I’m hitting my lengths pretty well.” Looking ahead to Tuesday’s match at the Gabba, the 25-year-old Warwickshire all-rounder added: “It’ll be a bit quicker and a bit more bouncy which will be nice for us as a bowing unit. “We’re looking forward to it, we’re looking to get back on the horse quickly.”
