ALI KO’S KOHLI & CO
Super Ali takes the plaudits but make no mistake, this was a TEAM effort from Root’s band of brothers
MOEEN ALI spun England to a famous series victory over the world’s No.1 Test side in Southampton and then told Joe Root “Let me bat at No.3”.
Thanks to Moeen’s 9-134 in the match, they have an unassailable 3-1 lead with one game to play on starting Friday at the Oval – but don’t be fooled by the numbers, this has been tough work and England have earned their rewards the hard way.
They might not have the dominant batsman who can reel off century after century, and they might not have the mystery spinner who can slice through teams at home and abroad.
But what England do have is a team that is proving to be greater than the sum of its parts, and at home they are able to find a way to win time and again.
And with Moeen taking the plaudits with 4-71 in the second innings, his was an all-round performance from a player who is very much at home in a team of allrounders.
Moeen even moved up to No.3 in the order in the second innings to try to help his side.
It is where he bats for Worcestershire for whom he scored a double hundred last week.
And with his man-of-thematch gong secured, he revealed his wish to do the job more permanently.
“I’d love to bat three,” said Moeen. “I don’t know if I will, we’ll have to wait and see but I’d love to.
“If it comes again to me that would be great, I can bat three and then Rooty can bat at four. We’ll have to see what happens in the future.
“It feels good to be back after playing county cricket and getting into some form.
“Patience was the key with the ball, just waiting for something to happen.
“They are fantastic players of spin and at one stage I just thought I can’t get them out.
“But I was probably at my most patient and it’s great to get the win.”
What most teams would give to have just one allrounder the quality of Moeen or Ben Stokes, or Sam Curran or Jos Buttler, and yet England even have a fifth, Chris Woakes injured on the sidelines.
This might pose problems for the traditionalists who want specialists with just the one all-rounder to balance the side, but that is not where England’s strength lies in the red-ball game and they must continue to embrace it.
It is hard enough finding players who can thrive at Test level, who can rise to the occasion in front of big crowds, so they need to keep encouraging the players who clearly can.
Like Moeen, Curran returned to the side after missing out in Nottingham and was the man who claimed the final wicket of the match to secure the series, and after his runs and wickets he surely can’t be anywhere near the chopping block again.
“I can’t believe what is happening I’m just taking it all in,” said Curran (left, celebrating taking the winning wicket of Ravi Ashwin yesterday), who has won all four matches he has played.
“I’ve not really batted better than this, I’m just trying to bat the way I do for Surrey and I’m getting a few out of the screws which is great.
“But it is all about the team winning.”