"What’s Changed in a Week?" – Steve Harmison Questions Moeen Ali’s Sudden Inclusion
Former England pace bowler Steve Harmison has questioned what changed recently that made Moeen Ali come back to the Test side after being left out of the squads entirely. Ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, Moeen was called up while specialist spinner Dom Bess was sent back.
While Moeen can fill up the gaping hole left by Ben Stokes’ withdrawal from the squad to an extent, the fact that he wasn’t even part of the main squad as an option surprised Harmison. Speaking about his selection in the second Test against India, Harmison said:
“My question to the England selectors is – ‘what changed in a week?’ Because I just don’t understand. I’ve cooked one theory which I hope is right but it probably isn’t.”
“Because of what’s happened with Moeen with COVID and being in a taxi with Chris Woakes, going to Sri Lanka – England have probably decided they’re gonna bring Moeen Ali into the group [only] if they play him,” Harmison said in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo.
“Moeen Ali is like a mood cricketer” – Steve Harmison
There have been several opinions in the past about England under-utilizing Moeen Ali’s repertoire. While that might be true when it comes to England’s white-ball cricket, he hasn’t been up to the mark in Tests, however, and Harmison believes it’s just the mindset which changes the way he plays.
“When Moeen Ali is enjoying his cricket, he’s a far better cricketer when he’s not enjoying. I know that’s easy to say because everybody does that. But when he’s bowling well, he bats well, and when he bats well, he bowls well.”
“When he’s under a little bit of pressure, it tends to affect his game – he’s like a mood cricketer. When everything going’s well, he’s a brilliant cricketer. When it’s going wrong, yeah he struggles a little bit,” Harmison pointed out.
He concluded by stating that his absence from the squad is the biggest question. According to him, Moeen is the only spin option England has in Tests who is up to Test match standards.
Moeen Ali will soon be seen in action during the second Test against India at Lord’s. He replaced Daniel Lawrence in the playing XI for the vital match.
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