FORMER Herefordshire cricketer Chris Woakes lifted the Ashes urn with England - and admitted it was a week he will never forget.

The 24-year-old all-rounder could have led England to victory against Australia on his Test debut - he was 17 not out when bad light ended play at The Oval.

Woakes had struck an unbeaten 17 from 13 balls when play was halted with England needing just 21 more from 24 balls with five wickets in hand.

“It’s a week I will never forget - my debut in an Ashes series has been pretty special,” said Woakes, who took 1-96 from 24 overs in Australia’s first innings of the match.

England won the Ashes series 3-0 - and Woakes will be hoping to gain selection for the trip to Australia this winter.

Woakes, who made 25 runs in England’s first innings, added: “Lifting the urn with the lads at The Oval is hard to put into words.”

Woakes played four times for Herefordshire in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, three times in MCCA Knockout trophy matches and once in the Minor Counties Championships.

He plays his domestic cricket at Warwickshire and has also featured in 13 One-day internationals and four Twenty20 internationals.