Keeper goes to bat for Moeen
JONNY Bairstow has declared it will be impossible for England to leave Moeen Ali out of the Sydney Test, after claiming the battling spinner’s capabilities are beyond question.
Moeen’s confidence appears to have plummeted to the point he is simply making up the numbers in an England team down 3- 0, and several greats, led by Michael Vaughan, have stated that legspinner Mason Crane ought to be an automatic selection at the SCG.
England were last night out enjoying the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, although as Bairstow – of Cameron Bancroft headbutt fame – was quick to lightheartedly point out, they would be the “9pm” ones, in honour of their midnight curfew.
Crane starred in one match for NSW at the SCG last season – the first Englishman to pull on a baggy blue in over 100 years – and although he may not be the finished article either, Vaughan and others believe it would be crazy to bring him to Australia and not give him a game with nothing left to lose.
However, if Bairstow’s impassioned backing of Moeen is anything to go by, England will be unchanged going into Sydney.
Moeen didn’t take a wicket in Melbourne, and in a telling blow, captain Joe Root preferred to bowl himself and part- time leggie Dawid Malan on the final day at the MCG when England were sniffing victory. Dropping him would leave a thinner batting line- up, although Moeen’s meek first- innings surrender in the Boxing Day Test would suggest England wouldn’t lose a lot.
Bairstow says England will pick their best XI, and in his opinion, Moeen is in that side any day of the week – predicting he will also play a key role on the upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.
“The guy is second fastest ever to 2000 runs and 100 Test wickets, so I think that’s unquestionable to even think he’s not in that best XI,” said Bairstow.
“He wouldn’t have played the first four Test matches if he’s not in that first XI and I think there’s not many finger spinners that have come to Australia and bowled teams out.
“He can take a game away from you. And whether it be this next game or the first Test match in New Zealand, the talent and the capabilities of Moeen Ali is unquestionable.”
Privately, England figures worry about the impact dropping Moeen could have on his already deflated confidence.
Despite being a Test player of serious note and ability, this tour has exposed Moeen’s lack of selfbelief, as he even went about trying to change his bowling technique mid- innings in the second Test in Adelaide.