AFP/Manchester
Moeen Ali’s performance in taking six wickets during England’s first Test win in nearly a year has left national coach Peter Moores excited by the heights the off-spinner could yet reach in international cricket.
Ali’s second-innings return of six for 67 was instrumental in skittling India out for 178 as England won the third Test by 266 runs at Southampton on Thursday to level the five-match series at 1-1.
His bowling display saw the 27-year-old Worcestershire all-rounder, a practising Muslim, put to one side the controversy he had generated earlier in the match by wearing wristbands proclaiming ‘Save Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
Not that England coach Moores was surprised. “Moeen is a very level-headed bloke and that is one of his real strengths,” he said. “He stays calm under pressure. So he took it for what it was and moved on.”
After off-spinner Graeme Swann retired during England’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, England decided this season to give Ali, primarily a batsman, a chance to stake his claim as their leading specialist slow bowler.
Often damned with the faint praise of being a ‘part-time’ off-spinner, Ali has so far taken 15 wickets at an impressive average of 26.46 in the India series, with only England’s James Anderson (16 wickets) a more successful bowler so far in the first three Tests. “Test match cricket is about how rapidly people grow in it,” said Moores, now in his second spell as England coach. “He’s grown very quickly as a bowler and I hope that carries on. Mo is a very sensible lad. He knows he’s got to keep doing a lot of work.”
Ali had already proved his worth as a batsman, making a Test hundred at Headingley in June that so nearly saved the match and the series against Sri Lanka.
And following his display at the Ageas Bowl, it seems his bowling will be treated with greater respect. “He keeps getting better,” said Moores.
“That’s exciting, because you don’t know when he’s going to stop. To get people like (Cheteshwar) Pujara and (Virat) Kohli out early on—they’re very high-class players of spin—that’s a very good sign for the future.”
His efforts in the third Test also demonstrated Ali’s ability not just to bowl conventional off-breaks but to utilise the variation of drifting the ball away from the right-handed batsman or towards left-handers. “Two things are essential for a top-flight spinner,” said Moores, a former wicketkeeper with county side Sussex.
“He attacks both edges. He gets great drift and he turns the ball—he spins it hard. Without those two things it’s very difficult—if you only attack one edge of the bat, the way people work you out is quite fast. But because Mo creates this drift, I think he is a challenge for all batters.”
Moores, speaking ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford was buoyed by the way in which England had ended a run of 10 successive Tests without a win during a match where captain Alastair Cook returned to form with fifties in both innings.
“I think one of the things we were trying to move away from is a mindset that’s more defensive, trying to hold on to things,” said Moores.
“You’re trying to play cricket where you’re on the front foot and trying to put people under pressure, and that’s the conversation we had. We are rebuilding, no doubt—and at times we will get things wrong. But provided we have everybody totally committed and driving it forward, we will get to where we want to be.”
AFP
Manchester
Moeen Ali’s performance in taking six wickets during England’s first Test win in nearly a year has left national coach Peter Moores excited by the heights the off-spinner could yet reach in international cricket.
Ali’s second-innings return of six for 67 was instrumental in skittling India out for 178 as England won the third Test by 266 runs at Southampton on Thursday to level the five-match series at 1-1.
His bowling display saw the 27-year-old Worcestershire all-rounder, a practising Muslim, put to one side the controversy he had generated earlier in the match by wearing wristbands proclaiming ‘Save Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
Not that England coach Moores was surprised. “Moeen is a very level-headed bloke and that is one of his real strengths,” he said. “He stays calm under pressure. So he took it for what it was and moved on.”
After off-spinner Graeme Swann retired during England’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, England decided this season to give Ali, primarily a batsman, a chance to stake his claim as their leading specialist slow bowler.
Often damned with the faint praise of being a ‘part-time’ off-spinner, Ali has so far taken 15 wickets at an impressive average of 26.46 in the India series, with only England’s James Anderson (16 wickets) a more successful bowler so far in the first three Tests. “Test match cricket is about how rapidly people grow in it,” said Moores, now in his second spell as England coach. “He’s grown very quickly as a bowler and I hope that carries on. Mo is a very sensible lad. He knows he’s got to keep doing a lot of work.”
Ali had already proved his worth as a batsman, making a Test hundred at Headingley in June that so nearly saved the match and the series against Sri Lanka.
And following his display at the Ageas Bowl, it seems his bowling will be treated with greater respect. “He keeps getting better,” said Moores.
“That’s exciting, because you don’t know when he’s going to stop. To get people like (Cheteshwar) Pujara and (Virat) Kohli out early on—they’re very high-class players of spin—that’s a very good sign for the future.”
His efforts in the third Test also demonstrated Ali’s ability not just to bowl conventional off-breaks but to utilise the variation of drifting the ball away from the right-handed batsman or towards left-handers. “Two things are essential for a top-flight spinner,” said Moores, a former wicketkeeper with county side Sussex.
“He attacks both edges. He gets great drift and he turns the ball—he spins it hard. Without those two things it’s very difficult—if you only attack one edge of the bat, the way people work you out is quite fast. But because Mo creates this drift, I think he is a challenge for all batters.”
Moores, speaking ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford was buoyed by the way in which England had ended a run of 10 successive Tests without a win during a match where captain Alastair Cook returned to form with fifties in both innings.
“I think one of the things we were trying to move away from is a mindset that’s more defensive, trying to hold on to things,” said Moores.
“You’re trying to play cricket where you’re on the front foot and trying to put people under pressure, and that’s the conversation we had. We are rebuilding, no doubt—and at times we will get things wrong. But provided we have everybody totally committed and driving it forward, we will get to where we want to be.”
England’s Moeen Ali signs autographs after bowling England to victory in the third Test against India at The Aegeas Bowl ground in Southampton last week. (AFP)
Seamer Aaron should get a look-in for the fourth Test, says Ganguly
Agenices
Kolkata
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly called for inclusion of pacer Varun Aaron keeping in mind the fast nature of the pitch in Manchester -- the venue for the fourth Test versus England beginning August 7. “Manchester track is the fastest wicket in England. I think Varun Aaron should get a look-in,” Ganguly said as India grappled with bowling woes.
While the matchwinner of the Lord’s Test, Ishant, is already out of the next match, there’s a cloud of doubt over Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has a swollen knee. In batting too, India need some “fresh heads”, Ganguly said hinting at Gautam Gambhir’s inclusion in place of Shikhar Dhawan.
“India need some fresh heads at this stage. I’m not saying Gambhir would succeed but we need some fresh ideas. At this stage, it is anyone’s series,” he said after he began a new innings in cricket administration as CAB’s joint secretary.
Ganguly further said he’s disappointed with Bengal pacer Mohammad Shami’s lacklustre performance but disagreed that severe workload was the reason for this. “If he won’t play cricket at this age then when would he?” Ganguly asked.
No Asian Games for India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India will not field a team in the Asian Games, which will be hosted in South Korea between 19 September and 4 October.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have entered a men’s and women’s side, but Pakistan only the latter.
“The men could be busy with other commitments, but it is perplexing to see the women’s team not playing,” ESPNcricinfo quoted former India women’s captain Diana Eduljee as saying.
“A medal at the Asian Games would have not only brought financial rewards and perks from the government to women cricketers but also given them glory and respect.
“It is another indication the BCCI isn’t really interested in running and spreading women’s cricket.”
The Asian Games will be held over the same period as the Champions League Twenty20, which will sport three Indian teams - Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders. The Mumbai Indians, too, will be afforded the opportunity to qualify.
Marsh’s surgery successful
Cricket Australia have given an injury update on batsman Shaun Marsh, who underwent surgery in Melbourne on the left elbow he injured during the IPL, ruling him out of cricket for the next three to four months.
CA Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: “Shaun had surgery on his left elbow to reconstruct the ligament and the surgeon has reported that everything went well.
“He will now wear a brace for a period of time and will then commence rehabilitation on the joint, which is anticipated will take approximately three to four months to recover.
“We believe having the surgery now will still allow him time to recover and play for Western Australia and with the view of him being fit and available for Australian duty again mid-summer.”
Marsh will remain in Melbourne for the next few days while he recuperates and swelling decreases before returning to Perth next week.
Varun Aaron.
Zimb coach threatens
to drop seniors
Agencies
Harare
Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo has laid down the law for his senior players, saying even the most experienced cricketer is not safe from the chop unless they start putting results on the board.
Zimbabwe lost their most recent ODI series to Afghanistan at home, a shock result for the African side against a team supposedly their inferior. Only one batsman, Sikandar Raza, made a ton in those three games. Mangongo, newly appointed to the role, said in the Zimbabwe Independent: “We have underperformed for a long time and the time has come for us to be bold and make the right decisions.
“We will not hesitate to chop dead wood and we will not hesitate to unleash raw genuine talent if experience fails us. Each player will be held accountable for his roles, and the day you do not execute your role well I will look elsewhere.
“I would rather have young hungry talent learning than to have the experienced players continuously underperforming. The current group of players has played against all cricket nations in the world, but some of their performances do not show.”
The Zimbabwean’s next challenge is a Test and ODI series against South Africa at home, and then a triangular series against the Proteas and Australia, and Mangongo insists the bigger teams must not assume they’ll beat his side.
The new coach continued: “Even when we play giants like South Africa and Australia, it should not be a foregone conclusion; they should know that when they come here they will play some tough cricket.“This is a good opportunity for us to play good cricket consistently and the players are all excited about it. When we win against Bangladesh no one cares but when we beat Pakistan the world took notice. “So when we play Australia and South Africa it’s a rare opportunity for us to show the world that we can play cricket and prove our doubters wrong.”