POMS SWEATING ON ALI MAKING THE CUT

ENGLAND are 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 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 front- liner.

Fast bowler Jake on previous 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 Moeen’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,” Root said. “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.”