MO IS STILL A BATSMAN FIRST, SAYS BAYLISS

ENGLAND are determined to regard Moeen Ali as their second slow bowler even though he has just become the first off-spinner to take 10 wickets in a Lord’s Test for 66 years. Coach Trevor Bayliss believes granting Moeen’s wish to be considered primarily a batsman rather than a direct off-spinning replacement for Graeme Swann was key in him producing his best all-round performance for England. The psychology in telling Moeen that Liam Dawson (below) — himself more of a batsman in county cricket — was picked ahead of him as a bowler in the first Test was to try to relax the off-spinner, rather than provide a challenge to him. ‘Mo is a bit of a complex character,’ said Bayliss after England’s 211-run win over South Africa. ‘He wants to be in the team as a batter who bowls a bit and that’s important because it relaxes him. And that doesn’t mean he can’t be the best spinner.’ The move was made to encourage Moeen to attack while Dawson was chosen to provide control, but the Hampshire man was England’s most expensive bowler in the first innings and has much to prove at the highest level. ‘Liam admitted he was nervous in the first innings and it didn’t come out for him the way he wanted,’ said Bayliss, ‘but he showed the character we know he has to come back stronger in the second innings and provide a good partnership with Mo.’ Dawson’s selection meant Adil Rashid was jettisoned after taking 30 wickets in seven Tests during the tour of India and Bangladesh last winter. ‘Both Mo and Rash are attacking spinners and we felt if we could find someone to offer us control while also taking wickets it could set us up better,’ added Bayliss. ‘Dawson is the one with the opportunity at the moment.’ South Africa, meanwhile, have told Kagiso Rabada not to change even though he will miss the second Test at Trent Bridge, beginning on Friday, after being suspended for swearing at Ben Stokes. ‘It’s important he plays the way he does,’ said returning captain Faf du Plessis. ‘Every guy needs his instinct and personality and not for one second should he change that.’