Mo’s worth his weight in gold for experience insists Eoin
MOEEN Ali’s tough winter with England appears to heading for a brighter period, with Eoin Morgan declaring the all-rounder “worth his weight in gold” in the white-ball team.
Moeen has endured a tricky start to the year, testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Sri Lanka in January and then spending two uncomfortable weeks in isolation rather than pushing for a place in Joe Root’s Test team.
He eventually found his way back into the side for the second Test against India last month, his first appearance in 18 months, but left the tour immediately afterwards for a predetermined rest period.
Root’s assertion that he had “chosen” to leave attracted criticism before being quickly clarified by head coach Chris Silverwood.
His role in Morgan’s limited-overs set-up seems a steadier one by those standards and his ability to take a dual role as second spinner and lower-order hitter makes him a key part of England’s plans for the fivematch Twenty20 series, which takes place in Ahmedabad from today. “Moeen’s experience alone is worth its weight in gold,” said Morgan. “He’s a guy who has been around a very long time, played all formats of the game and had exposure in franchise cricket around the world. Having him is a luxury within the squad, as is having the option to use him at different stages in the game.
“He’s opened the batting for years, he can bat anywhere in the top seven and can bowl wherever except probably the death.
“He gives you a lot of options. We see him day in, day out and the amount of effort he puts in and the desire he shows. It’s been as good as it has been ever.” Morgan also confirmed that Jofra Archer was fit and ready to play his part, having missed two of the last three Tests with an elbow injury. Silverwood recently suggested the issue could require long-term management and the paceman confronted speculation about his redball future yesterday.
Archer referenced an article by former
He gives you a lot of options. We see him day in, day out and the amount of effort he puts in and the desire he shows.
Eoin Morgan
England captain Michael Vaughan, in which his appetite for the Test game was raised, and said: “I found it a bit odd. He doesn’t know what makes me tick. He doesn’t know what’s driving me.”
Morgan has a considerably better idea about those matters and is in no doubt about Archer’s commitment, quality or character.
“From a medical perspective, I can’t give you an accurate answer but I know Jofra’s ambition has always been to play Test cricket for as long as he can,” he said.
“He is a huge asset. He is a guy who can bowl in three parts of the game
and be threatening when he comes on. He has express pace, can bowl cutters, variations and has a very good yorker. So he is a huge asset in any format of the game.”
On a personal level, Morgan has also seen plenty to like, adding: “He loves enjoying what he does – travelling, playing Xbox, playing cricket, playing in front of big, big crowds and he is a huge family man.
“The more I have got to know him, one, the better our relationship is but, two, the more I have grown to enjoy his company away from the game because I have got to know him more. He’s a funny guy.”
COVENTRY City’s players are “buzzing” to get back to the Ricoh Arena – particularly the ones who got a tour of the stadium before they signed but have never actually played there yet.
The Ricoh has long been a big selling point for successive managers to attract new players to the club, and that was the case with the likes of Gus Hamer, Michael Rose and Fankaty Dabo – all of whom were shown round in consecutive summers over the last two years when the football club had hoped to be back in the city.
But asked if being away from the Ricoh has cost Mark Robins any players who might have signed had they not been playing at St Andrew’s, Sky Blues chief executive Dave Boddy said: “Funnily enough it hasn’t.
“The two pre-seasons we’ve been away the players we recruited came here more than anywhere to see our facilities – yet those who have joined us have yet to play here.
“So the current playing staff, people like Michael Rose, Fanky Dabo all had the tour here and yet they haven’t played here yet, so I’m pleased for them today because it would be very sad to play for a club for a couple for years and yet never play at their home ground.
“So that will be nice for them.”
He added: “But without doubt it can help us recruit players.
“It’s been a big selling point in the past. When we were recruiting Gus Hamer in the summer window we brought him here and he was expecting to be playing here. We thought moving might have a detrimental effect on him but it didn’t and I know the players are buzzing to be here.”