Woakes was talking as part of NatWest CricketForce, a summer programme making it easier for everyone to play, experience and follow cricket. Join the conversation by following @NatWest_Cricket and #NoBoundaries on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

England’s most reliable 50-over seamer unpicks the challenges of bowling at the start and the finish of a one-day innings.

Part 1: The first over

What are your initial tactics?

As a new-ball bowler you need to try to take wickets, because you know the white ball doesn’t really swing. The only time the ball is likely to do anything at all is during that first over. So the most important thing with the new ball is assessing the conditions. It’s like the first morning of a Test match, you need to figure out what length is best to bowl, and what length is going to be the hardest to hit.

What are you looking for from your very first delivery?

First ball, you’re going to see if the ball swings, if that new ball swings at all. So you want to be quite full of length. You might be encouraged by a little bit of swing from your first couple of balls, which will give you potentially six balls of swing, but then it will stop.