Moeen Ali Appointed England Vice-Captain Ahead Of ODI Series Against Ireland

While Moeen Ali remains sidelined from the Test team, the selectors have handed him a vital responsibility ahead of the ODI series against Ireland. Moeen Ali will serve as a deputy to captain Eoin Morgan in their first limited-overs assignment of the home season. The rubber kicks off from the 30th of July with all three matches slated to take place in Southampton.

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Currently, the English team has engaged themselves in a three-match Test series against the West Indies. After losing the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, England bounced back to level the series impressively in Manchester with one left to play. The hosts are scheduled to play three more Tests against the visiting Pakistan team, commencing from the 5th of August.

While Moeen Ali stated his intention to return to Tests against the West Indies, the selectors decided to keep him out. Instead, they opted for Dom Bess and Jack Leach with the former gradually elevating his status as the first-choice one. Ali’s poor performance in the first Test of the 2019 Ashes leads to his axing. He was not part of England’s squad for the subsequent two-Test series in New Zealand and four-Test leg in South Africa. But he did feature in the white-ball games in South Africa.

ECB announces Moeen Ali as the captain in their statement:

While Jos Buttler serves as the regular vice-captain to Morgan; however, he is featuring in the Tests for the nation. Hence, England decided to choose the 32-year old off-spinner.

“Moeen Ali has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s vice-captain for England Men’s three-match Royal London Series against Ireland,” the statement from England Cricket Board said as quoted by News18.

Former all-rounder Paul Collingwood will occupy the position as the head coach for the series while opener Marcus Trescothick would remain in the backroom staff.

The One-day World Champions will go to an on-site training camp at the Ageas Bowl on the 16th of July, playing two intra-squad warm-up matches. After that, the selectors will pick the final squad from the 24-member training party.

England training squad for three ODIs against Ireland:

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