ALI, YOU’RE THE GREATEST!

Hero Moeen breaks records with bat and ball as he helps England seal victory and clinch series

FIVE more men went to Mo as he cleaned up the gongs at Old Trafford for a record-breaking series.

When Duanne Olivier became Moeen Ali’s 25th wicket of the series (right), the all-rounder had taken 5-69 to secure a 177-run win for England.

It also meant he was out on his own as the only man to ever score 250 runs and take 25 wickets in a fourmatch series.

Mirror Sport’s own Sir Ian Botham is the only other Englishman to have managed the feat, twice in 1981 and 1985, but they were in six-Test series against Australia, who have now slipped behind England in the Test rankings.

Moeen’s efforts here were enough for him to pick up two cardboard cheques for the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series and it was the least he deserved as he dodged the champagne spray in England’s celebrations at retaining the Basil D’Oliveira trophy with a 3-1 series win.

There has been a bit of kidology where Moeen is concerned, being branded as a batsman who bowls a bit, because he prefers the title, but the truth is he is far better than that.

He now has 123 Test wickets, more than the twirling efforts of Phil Tufnell, who certainly did not offer much in the batting department.

The 30-year-old Brummie has shown he can deliver with bat and ball, but he also brings an air of calm to the side that is hard to quantify. Essentially Moeen has become a senior player in the dressing room. He is no longer trying to prove his worth, he is a gem in the England mine.

Along with Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, this is now Moeen’s team.

He will have a big say in the future direction of travel and it will be his ability that contributes more and more to Test-match wins. “This series I have felt more consistent with bat and ball – especially the ball,” said Moeen. “I felt in good rhythm after the first game and I contributed with the bat a couple of times. “It was a great pitch to bowl on and I felt if you landed it in a good area with a lot of revs you got rewards. “It doesn’t matter what I’m labelled as, when we play one spinner, I’m the lead, if we play two then, depending on who it is, I may be second fiddle. “But I have the experience in international cricket now and it’s a good challenge.” It takes a little bravery to describe Moeen as England’s best all-rounder when there is a certain Ben Stokes in the team, as well as the all-round talents of Jonny Bairstow.

According to the numbers and the rankings, Moeen is just ahead of Stokes, but it is Joe Root’s great fortune that he does not have to choose between them.

“Luckily I don’t have to consider just one,” said Root. “It’s a great position to be in, to have a few wonderful allrounders with the side.

“It was great to see Moeen in particular in this series step up and put in some unbelievable performances to win games for us.

“Hopefully that can be something that can be repeated on a number of occasions in the future.

“He has stood out in particular, but everyone has contributed and made it a really good series.”