Ali out to be a three spirit now
MOEEN ALI spun England to a famous series victory over the world’s No.1 Test side then told Joe Root: “Let me bat at three.”
Thanks to Moeen’s 9-134 in Southampton, the English have an unassailable 3-1 lead with one game to play on Friday at the Oval.
But don’t be fooled by the numbers, this has been hard work.
England 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.
But what they do have is a team that is proving to be greater than the sum of its parts.
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 all-rounders.
Moeen even moved up to No.3 in the order in the second innings to try to help his side. It is where he scored a double hundred for Worcestershire last week. And he said: “I’d BY DEAN WILSON love to bat three for England. 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.
“Patience was the key with the ball. They are fantastic players of spin and at one stage I just thought, ‘I can’t get them out!’ But I was probably my most patient and it’s great to get the win.”
What most teams would give to have just one all-rounder the quality of Moeen or Ben Stokes or Sam Curran or Jos Buttler. Yet England even have a fifth, Chris Woakes, out injured.
Like Moeen, Curran returned to the side after missing out in Nottingham and claimed the final wicket to secure the series.
“I can’t believe what is happening, I’m taking it all in,” said Curran 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. But it is all about the team winning.”