Root apology after Moeen exit mix-up

England captain sorry for ‘he has chosen to leave’ remark All-rounder misses final two Tests in pre-planned trip home

England captain Joe Root has apologised to Moeen Ali after saying the all-rounder had “chosen” to return home for the final two Tests in India after it had been agreed already he could leave the tour to rest.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Root apologised privately to Moeen, believing his comments may have come across as criticising the player for sticking to a plan devised by the team management to best prepare him for the Twenty20 leg of the tour. Root emphasised that he fully supported Moeen’s return and that he remained a valued member of the Test squad.

In the second Test in Chennai, Moeen took eight wickets and struck an 18-ball 43 in the second innings, England’s top score of the match, as Root’s team suffered a 317run defeat that levelled the fourmatch series 1-1. After improving as the game went on with the ball, Moeen was set to retain his place had he been available for the third Test, which starts next Wednesday.

Root had asked Moeen to consider skipping the white-ball tour instead, but he opted to go home as planned. He leaves India tomorrow but will be home for only just over a week. He will fly back to India on a charter flight with the one-day squad on Feb 26.

England mapped out individual schedules for all players ahead of a gruelling 12 weeks in biosecure bubbles in Sri Lanka and India, promising that nobody would spend the whole three months away.

Four players – Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler – have all previously gone home for prearranged breaks, while Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were rested from the tour of Sri Lanka.

Root has emphasised to Moeen that the team have no qualms about him leaving, seeing it in the same light as the previous departures from the tour of Asia, as England attempt to manage the demands of a tour that will entail being away from Jan 2 until March 29.

“It’s obviously been a very tricky tour for him,” Root had said earlier. “If players feel like they need to get out of the bubble, then that’s been an option.

“It is really important that we stand by that. It was a decision he had chosen. Of course, we wanted as many players available for as long as possible, but you also want them to be very comfortable here and, for Mo, he obviously wants to be at home with his family and we completely understand that.

“If you look at this tour, it’s been a really difficult one for him, having Covid, being in his room for such long periods of time, and I think we’ve come to a point where he wants to get out of the bubble. That’s absolutely fair enough.

“I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for him, but it’s one we

We were outplayed and the pitch was not to blame, says captain

completely respect and understand.”

With England unlikely to play two spinners in home Tests this summer, and Moeen’s struggles in Australia, where England tour next winter, it is unclear when he will next be selected for a Test.

Root, however, said his career was not over. “Why would it be Moeen’s last Test? I thought he actually got better as the game went on and showed everyone he’s got skills to perform at this level. It means that he’s not going to play a further part out here but I don’t see why that closes the door on him entirely.”

Root refused to blame the pitch for England’s heaviest run defeat in Asia. “I wouldn’t say it was a good pitch,” he said. “But that is not the reason why we lost the game. We were outplayed on it.”

England are set to make several changes for the third Test, a daynight match in Ahmedabad. After 58 runs in six innings, Dan Lawrence is likely to miss out. He could be replaced by either the returning Jonny Bairstow or Zak Crawley, who is recovering from a wrist injury. If Crawley is fully fit, both he and Bairstow could play, with opener Rory Burns missing out. James Anderson is certain to return, with England also hoping Jofra Archer will be fit following his elbow injury.

Off-spinner Dom Bess will replace Moeen in the final XI unless England believe they need only one frontline spinner. Chris Woakes could also come into contention.

“We’re very much alive and kicking in this series,” Root insisted.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli looks unlikely to face any action from the International Cricket Council after his confrontation with umpire Nitin Menon on the third day.