Chris Woakes hoped yesterday that he had done enough to retain the new-ball duties when England open the World Cup against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday.

The 25-year-old did his claims no harm in England’s nine-wicket warm-up win in Sydney, snaring five for 19 as West Indies were skittled for 122.

Woakes set the tone for a convincing success from the very first over, when he narrowly missed out on a hat-trick, en-route to a reassuring performance after he endured a day to forget last time out in the Tri-Series final.

Woakes took the new ball in all of England’s Tri-Series games but was pummelled for 89, without taking a wicket, in the Perth decider to raise some doubt over whether he would keep the role in front of a MCG sell-out at the start of the World Cup.

“I’d like to think hopefully it is me (who takes the new ball in Melbourne),” said Woakes.

“I’ve done it for roughly 10 games or so now. It would be nice to think that I will get the new ball.

“Every time you put on the shirt, whether it is a warm-up game or in the Tri-Series, you’re trying to do your best for England but your cause as well.

“Fingers crossed I get the new ball. I’m not aware of any changes at the minute.”

With James Anderson and Stuart Broad rested at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Woakes took the opportunity — on a helpful wicket — to remind people of his quality as he found noticeable carry and movement.

He took just three balls to strike when Chris Gayle gloved a rising ball down the leg-side for a first-ball duck. Darren Bravo lasted no longer when he nicked a vicious off-cutter and Woakes almost had a hat-trick when Marlon Samuels fended inside the next ball.

The Warwickshire right-armer wrapped up his five-wicket haul and the West Indies innings in 29.3 overs, when Andre Russell obligingly swiped him to Chris Jordan in the deep.

“It didn’t go to plan in Perth in the final. It would have been nice to put in a better performance there, not just myself but as a team as well,” Woakes added.

“I felt like I’ve been bowling pretty well for the last year or so now — in the last six months in particular. (My confidence) didn’t take too much of a hit.

“You always want to get back out there and put in a performance to get back confidence, but I wouldn’t say it was too much of a dent.

“Today has obviously helped that by taking five wickets.”