MO: COUNT ME IN, JOE

Fit-again Ali is raring to go for Test return after recovering from Covid

MOEEN ALI has issued a ‘pick me!’ plea to skipper Joe Root after seeing his Test return scuppered by Covid.

England’s spinning all-rounder would have earned his 61st cap in Galle had he not gone down with the virus between Stansted and Colombo.

Instead, the Brummie has been forced to wait – mainly in quarantine.

Now he says he is ready, able and willing to be a match-winner again in Root’s 100th Test in Chennai on Friday against the might of India.

But Moeen knows he has a battle on his hands to oust the men currently in possession, Dom Bess and Jack Leach.

But with his hunger back, he is itching to represent England again in Test action for the first time in 18 months.

“That is my biggest motivation,” said Moeen, 33, who gave himself a six-month Test break last winter. “I still feel I’ve got wickets and runs and match-winning performances within me.

“Having a break 18 months ago, during that time I thought I’ve still got a bit in me to do well.

“In terms of being ready to play, I think I’ll be fine. I’ve waited long enough.

“We probably would have played three spinners in the first game in Sri Lanka but with what happened that wasn’t the case. Whether or not I get picked now is another matter. Bessy and Leachy did quite well in Sri Lanka and are coming off some good performances.”

Moeen has experience on his side, but in India on the last tour he struggled to be effective against arguably the best players of spin in the world.

His 181 Test wickets though attest to a bowler of quality, and his five Test tons – including two in India – cannot be disregarded.

Calling on Moeen for the second or third match might make more sense.

Until you realise that the selectors have pencilled him in to head home after the second Test for an allformat break from cricket.

Surely this will be revised if he hasn’t played a match and is needed for the back end of the series.

Moeen said: “I wouldn’t wish the 14-day quarantine I went through on anyone. Stuck in your room, watching cricket when it’s spinning...

“I’m here for the first two games and there’s a chance I’ll be going home after that.

“It has felt like a long tour already so far but once you start playing things gets better and you’re in a better frame of mind.”

I still feel I’ve got match-winning performances and wickets in me

IN HIS HANDS Jack Leach is favoured over Mooen, for now