Chris Woakes has withdrawn from the upcoming IPL season in order to stay fresh ahead of England's home Test summer.

Woakes, a 150 lakh (£160,000) signing for the Delhi Capitals at December's auction, has not played a T20 since August 2018, and last played a T20I for England in November 2015. ESPNcricinfo understands in his communication with the franchise Woakes informed the Capitals that he was pulling out due to family reasons. No further details could be ascertained.

Head coach Ricky Ponting had singled him out as a player who "could go for big money" ahead of the auction, but Delhi were the only team to register a bid for him.

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Woakes had a mixed record in his previous two IPL seasons. In 2017, he took 17 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders with an economy rate of 8.77, but in 2018 played only five games for Royal Challengers Bangalore, and conceded 10.36 runs per over.

Woakes has been ever-present in England's Test squads this winter, playing one Test against both New Zealand and South Africa, and is one of only four frontline seam options in their squad in Sri Lanka.

England play six home Tests next summer, starting with a series against West Indies which begins on June 4. The three players in the squad to play Sri Lanka who also have IPL deals - Ben Stokes, Sam Curran and Jos Buttler - will join their franchises days before the start of the tournament, and will have only a few days off after it before linking up with the England squad ahead of the first Test against West Indies.

Despite having Ponting's backing, Woakes was not guaranteed to make Delhi's playing XI. He was one of eight overseas players in the squad alongside Jason Roy, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Keemo Paul, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kagiso Rabada and Shimron Hetmyer, with only four permitted per game.

It is unclear whether Rabada will be fit for the start of the tournament, after he was ruled out of South Africa's ODI series against Australia and India with a groin injury.