Captain sings praises of his ‘fabulous’ team
Root says that players did everything to plan Moeen takes deserved man of the match award
Joe Root praised his “fabulous” team for responding to “everything I asked”, and no player epitomised that better than Moeen Ali who led the team off the field at Lord’s having revelled in his “fresh start” under a new captain.
Moeen admitted to feeling a little “embarrassed” at doffing his cap to a packed house at Lord’s as England walked up the pavilion steps to the Long Room, but it was well deserved after he had recorded the best match figures by an England spinner in a home Test for 20 years and the most wickets at Lord’s since 1974. It was a far cry from his last Test in Chennai where he was flogged by India’s batsmen.
“Everything went my way,” said Moeen. “It was the best all-round performance of my career. It was a great wicket and I was trying to attack the batters as much as possible and it worked out well.
“I learned a lot in India, it helped my mindset a lot and it worked out well. It is almost like a fresh start for me with a new captain.
“Saqlain Mushtaq (England’s spin bowling coach) has been helping me with my mindset and Rooty has given me licence to come on and take wickets. He (Root) is exactly the same and will stay the same. I think you will see that on the pitch with the fields. It is a great start for him and I am really pleased for him.”
Moeen was modest, believing he bowled better in the first innings than the second, and praised his spin partner, Liam Dawson, for the wicket of Hashim Amla. “That was a big turning point,” he said.
But Moeen stole the man of the match award away from his captain with six for 53 in the second innings as England’s spinners took 14 wickets in the match, the most in a home Test since 1972.
England needed only two and a half hours to dismiss South Africa and deliver Root the perfect result after spending an agonising six
‘The lads were very open to do all I asked of them and that can’t be bad’
months waiting for his first Test in charge. “I didn’t know what to expect but what was pleasing was everything I asked of the lads they were very open to do and responded to it – that can’t be a bad thing moving forward,” said Root.
“I think everyone has played their part this week, and it’s important that was the case.
“It might not have been taking a six or scoring a 50 but there were crucial periods of play where the guys showed character, were very proactive and effected things in a positive manner.
“I wanted us to be proactive, to stay ahead of the game and, when there was the opportunity, to take responsibility.
“Everyone at certain points did that and it’s important we continue to do that if we are to take this side forward.”
The pitch was the driest Alastair Cook had seen at Lord’s, and he has played more Tests here (23) than any other player in history.
Graeme Swann always used to insist he hated bowling when the pitch was turning because that is when everybody expects the spinner to win the game but Moeen took charge of the situation.
“He’ll always tell you he feels he’s a batter who bowls,” said Root about Moeen. “He is at his best when he’s aggressive and attacking in his style – he gets great shape on the ball and puts a lot of revs on it.”
Trevor Bayliss, the coach, hopes it is a “watershed moment” for Moeen and, after naming the same 12 for the Trent Bridge Test, looks set to pick two spinners again.
South Africa’s problems are mounting up. Faf du Plessis, their Test captain, has rejoined the tour after the birth of his first child but Russell Domingo, the coach, is heading home for the second time after his mother was rushed into hospital. He went back to South Africa last month after she had been involved in a car crash but returned in time for the first Test. She was taken ill again on Sunday.
Kagiso Rabada is suspended for the second Test as a result of his punishment for giving Ben Stokes a send-off and Du Plessis faces a difficult job lifting his players with only a few days before the Trent Bridge Test starts on Friday.
“In Test cricket, particularly, you have to make your own luck. We haven’t been kind to ourselves the last four days. Small things, but they impacted the Test in quite a big way such as dropped catches, non-negotiable no-balls, they would definitely have made life easier as a captain,” said Dean Elgar, who was team leader in Du Plessis’s absence. “We need to take it on the chin and crack on.”