Chris Woakes believes that he finally belongs in the England set-up after initially struggling to cement a regular place in the national team.
The Warwickshire all-rounder was given the new ball ahead of Stuart Broad against Australia on Friday, and responded by returning figures of 4-40 in the three-wicket defeat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Woakes feels that a recent run of games in one-day cricket has allowed him to become to an established figure in the team.
He told reporters: "Sri Lanka was good for me and, with Jimmy [Anderson] and Broady not being around, it gave guys who have not played as much an opportunity to stake a claim.
"I felt like I did that there and I'm trying to continue it here. It is nice to know that I've performed well at international level now. I've been in and out and haven't known if I was going to play or not. It does help if you know you've got a good chance of playing. It's a confidence booster."
England's next game in the triangular series sees them take on 2011 World Cup winners India on Friday.
Chris O'Keefe
