Moeen sweats finger trouble
ENGLAND is bracing for the nightmare scenario that star spinner Moeen Ali may have to play as a specialist batsman in Adelaide.
There are still major concerns about the impact of a cut on Moeen’s finger and he has failed to bowl in the lead-up to the day-night Test, which opposing spinner Nathan Lyon has dominated on previous occasions.
England appear unlikely to play rookie leg-spinner Mason Crane — who played a game for NSW last season — to cover for Moeen, and would instead look to captain Joe Root and fellow part-timer Dawid Malan to provide the spin overs they may be so badly missing from their frontliner.
Fast bowler Jake Ball may also be in strife after a shocker in Brisbane, with Craig Overton waiting in the wings.
Root said Moeen was such a valued member of the batting line-up he will continue to bat ahead of Jonny Bairstow at No. 6 and is a certainty to play in Adelaide, even if he can’t bowl.
However, England’s attack is suddenly under pressure to be on guard for the off-spinner — who targeted Australian No. 3 Usman Khawaja so brilliantly at the Gabba — being sidelined from the attack.
Moeen will try and glue the cut and harden the area up for the wear and tear of spinning the ball, but he is running short on time.
“With Moen’s finger, the decision was taken to give it an extra day to rest it and make sure it’s as ready as it can be,” said Root. “We’ll have another look after practice and see how it is then, see if there’s any more damage to it and we’ll have to make a decision from there.
“It would be wrong to look too closely into it without knowing the full details. At the end of practice we’ll have a clear indication if he’ll be fit to bowl throughout the game.
“His batting has been a huge part of this team for a long time now, so I think he would still play as a batter.”
Former captain Alastair Cook is coming into this crucial second Test match under pressure to prove his international days aren’t numbered.
Kevin Pietersen expressed concern over Cook’s body language following two meek dismissals in the first Test.
Cook was out in the nets on his own in 40 degree heat on Wednesday, desperately fighting to regain form and Root believes his senior man will rise to the challenge.
“Throughout the series I’m pretty sure he’s going to make massive contributions,” he said.