Ashes build-up hit as Moeen and Finn sit out first games
Pair’s injuries throw England’s plans off track Overton now in frame for first Test in Brisbane
Another day in Australia, another setback. Moeen Ali and Steve Finn will both miss the first two matches of England’s tour, further damaging their hopes of retaining the Ashes.
Moeen’s injury is more significant if not serious. As England’s offspinner, he needs all the practice he can get in the build-up to the first Test, which starts on Nov 23 in Brisbane, but he will be restricted to the single four-day game in Townsville against a Cricket Australia XI who are a conspicuously weak side: apart from two international players, the side have a combined total of 31 first-class appearances. Had Moeen been able to play in the opening match against a Western Australia XI, he would have learnt how to harness the famous breeze known as the Fremantle Doctor. Around mid-afternoon it blows up the Swan River and gives an off-spinner at the Waca the opportunity to drift the ball away from right-handed batsmen. As it is, Moeen will miss the valuable chance of learning how to use it before the third Test in Perth in mid-december.
Moeen’s scan showed no structural damage to his left side but the stiffness, which he said he felt particularly when throwing the ball in practice, has deprived him of the game-time he needs both as a spinner and as a batsman who has yet to adapt his high-risk style to Australian conditions.
Finn’s scan showed he was not so seriously injured as was first thought when he edged a ball into his left knee while batting in the nets at Richardson Park in south Perth on Thursday.
Finn’s condition will be monitored over the next week in the hope that, like Moeen, he can play in the third and last warm-up game at Townsville, but as he was the sixth seamer selected in the squad, England have plenty of other options.
Finn bowling at 90mph, as he did before his last tour of Australia ended in his being sent home prematurely, would have been a serious loss; not so much the revised fast-medium version.
The uncertainty created by these two injuries before a single ball had been bowled in earnest was reflected when England captain Joe Root announced a change of plan. Instead of fielding 12 players in the two-day game against a Western Australian XI, as originally announced, England would use 13 players – that is everyone who is still fit and available, apart from Ben Foakes.
Unless Finn makes a spectacular comeback in Townsville, the position of fourth seamer in Brisbane will be occupied by either Jake Ball or Craig Overton.
The latter earned his selection by spearheading Somerset’s attack as his county hung on by the fingernails to their place in the County Championship Division One.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be an all-rounder,” Overton said. “Probably, at the minute, I’m more of a bowler. Over the last couple of years, I’ve tried to increase my pace a little bit and tried to get into the mid-80s.” He was one of many inspired to take up the sport by watching the Ashes of 2005, and represented England in the Under-19
‘I don’t want to lose that edge but I want to find the right balance and not go too far’
World Cup in Australia along with his twin brother Jamie, who was injured last season and who aims to visit Australia to see him play. Overton admitted he had received angermanagement counselling following an incident when he verbally abused the allrounder Ashar Zaidi. “I’ve quietened down over the last couple of years and what happened made me realise you can’t go on acting like that,” Overton said. “It was not just that incident, it was sort of the whole summer when there were a few instances.
“It’s one thing I’ve learnt with my psychologist at Somerset, Abi Tench, and you find ways of dealing with it.
“I don’t want to lose the edge but I want to find the right balance and not go too far. There are still times when I push it a little bit and the older guys say keep it in check, but it’s definitely less often, which is good.”