Panesar backs Ali to return to the top level
FORMER England spinner Monty Panesar believes Moeen Ali is “in the driving seat” for a Test return after the Worcestershire all-rounder announced he was primed to make his comeback in the longest format.
Moeen took an extended break from Tests after being dropped during last year’s Ashes, losing his red-ball central contract and missing the winter assignments in New Zealand and South Africa as a result. However, the lowerorder batsman and off-spinner is now ready to resume a Test career that has brought five centuries and 181 wickets in 60 appearances.
Somerset duo Jack Leach and Dom Bess and Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson were the slow bowlers chosen for the cancelled trip to Sri Lanka but Panesar thinks Moeen’s all-round abilities should give him an edge over his rivals.
Panesar said: “Moeen’s definitely done really well in Test cricket. He’s had a bit of a break and he fancies his chances of coming back to play Test cricket. He is in the driving seat.
“He still probably is the best off-spinner in this country and I’m sure he’ll be keen to play in Test cricket. We know if Moeen Ali is bowling well and he’s batting well he’ll be the first spinner that England will look towards.”
Panesar took 167 wickets in 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013 and has been one of the pre-eminent spinners since the turn of the century.
Despite recently turning 38 and being without a county since 2016, the slow left-armer is hopeful of returning to first-class cricket. However, he admitted the coronavirus crisis and the impact this has had on the domestic calendar, with no professional cricket possible until July 1 at the earliest, means being snapped up this year is unlikely.
Speaking to promote a campaign highlighting racism towards staff in the NHS, Panesar added: “I still want to play first-class cricket. I don’t know whether I’ll get a chance this year now.
“I’d love to play again because I’m bowling well, I’m fit, everything feels really good. If there’s a county there where I can play for a couple of years that would be brilliant.”
Meanwhile, Ian Watmore will take over from Colin Graves as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board ahead of schedule on August 31, after an internal investigation cleared him of recent allegations.
Watmore was appointed earlier this year after being identified by a nominations panel including former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss and was lined up to take the reins in November, with Graves’ term extended to oversee the launch of The Hundred.
With that competition now postponed until 2021 as a result of coronavirus, Graves has decided to move on. Reports into Watmore’s departure from his previous role at the English Football League led to a review, but a three-person panel reported “no evidence to support any allegation of wrongdoing on Ian Watmore’s part”.
An ECB board unanimously endorsed the 61-year-old.Watmore, a former chief executive of the Football Association, cited ill-health upon leaving the EFL and denied any impropriety during his time with the organisation.
A statement from the ECB read: “During an extensive process, that included a confidential review of the report referenced in media, the sub-committee has universally agreed that there was no evidence to support any allegation of wrongdoing on Ian Watmore’s part. The board now regards the matter closed.”