England relief with Ali back on deck

ENGLAND all-rounder Moeen Ali insists the tourist’s decimated bowling attack is up to the task of retaining the urn as he prepares for his first Ashes Test in Australia.

After missing games in Perth and Adelaide with a side strain, the offspinner has been cleared to play in the four-day clash with the Chairman’s XI in Townsville, starting tomorrow. The 30-year-old’s return is a welcome change of luck for England, whose preparations have already been rocked by the loss of Steven Finn to injury, and Jake Ball (ankle) is racing the clock to be available for selection for next week’s first Test in Brisbane.

Ali’s all-round prowess is vital for England given Ben Stokes seems unlikely to take any part in the Ashes as he awaits the outcome of a police investigation into a street fight. The loss of Finn and Stokes puts even more pressure on pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad to shoulder the load, but Ali has backed the likes of George Garton to seize their chance.

“With new guys you never know what you get with them. Sometimes they can surprise you which is a good thing and there’s not a lot of expectation on them really,” Ali said. “But we’ve still got Jimmy and Broady and Woakesy [Chris Woakes] has bowled fantastically well.

“We know we’ve got two worldclass batters in Alastair Cook and Joe Root, and Australia has the same [with Steve Smith and David Warner].

“Whoever holds their nerve and really wants it as a batting unit will probably win the game.”