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England spinner Moeen Ali gets Alastair Cook’s seal of approval England spinner Moeen Ali gets Alastair Cook’s seal of approval
(35 minutes later)
Moeen Ali has been warned to expect an Indian counterattack in the fourth Test at Old Trafford but England’s captain, Alastair Cook, has growing confidence in his ability to cope.Moeen Ali has been warned to expect an Indian counterattack in the fourth Test at Old Trafford but England’s captain, Alastair Cook, has growing confidence in his ability to cope.
India’s captain, MS Dhoni, argued that his team had been complicit in allowing England’s spin discovery to claim second-innings figures of six for 67, giving him eight wickets in the match and 15 for the series, behind only Jimmy Anderson among the bowlers on both teams.India’s captain, MS Dhoni, argued that his team had been complicit in allowing England’s spin discovery to claim second-innings figures of six for 67, giving him eight wickets in the match and 15 for the series, behind only Jimmy Anderson among the bowlers on both teams.
“We allowed Moeen to bowl his line and length,” said Dhoni, who was dismissed by Anderson in each innings. “There was considerable amount of wear and tear on the pitch that went his way, and there were a lot of close-in fielders too. I just felt that we could have been a bit more positive against him.”“We allowed Moeen to bowl his line and length,” said Dhoni, who was dismissed by Anderson in each innings. “There was considerable amount of wear and tear on the pitch that went his way, and there were a lot of close-in fielders too. I just felt that we could have been a bit more positive against him.”
Cook believes the 27-year-old has the skill and strength of personality to cope – with his ability to shrug off the controversy caused by the ‘Save Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine’ wristbands he wore when batting on Monday offering further evidence of the latter. Cook believes the 27-year-old has the skill and strength of personality to cope – with his ability to shrug off the controversy caused by the “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands he wore when batting on Monday offering further evidence of the latter.
“It’s new for Mo to suddenly experience something like that,”Cook said. “I don’t think he was affected, as he took six-for and still had the same smile.“It’s new for Mo to suddenly experience something like that,”Cook said. “I don’t think he was affected, as he took six-for and still had the same smile.
“He’s come such a long way since the beginning of the summer. I’ve never seen his level of improvement from a bowler in such a short space of time. He didn’t bowl that much at Worcester behind Saeed Ajmal, so to adjust from county cricket to a holding role in international cricket, he’s done well. Then on a spinning wicket like that he gets a six-for to prove he’s an attacking option as well.”“He’s come such a long way since the beginning of the summer. I’ve never seen his level of improvement from a bowler in such a short space of time. He didn’t bowl that much at Worcester behind Saeed Ajmal, so to adjust from county cricket to a holding role in international cricket, he’s done well. Then on a spinning wicket like that he gets a six-for to prove he’s an attacking option as well.”
Cook praised the role played by Ian Bell, probably England’s best player of spin, in Moeen’s rapid development, his near Midlands neighbour having advised him to make a slight amendment in his line when bowling in international cricket. But he was keen to spread the praise around England’s other newcomers, six of whom experienced Test victory for the first time at the Ageas Bowl. Cook praised the role played by Ian Bell, probably England’s best player of spin, in Moeen’s rapid development, his near Midlands neighbour having advised him to make a slight amendment in his line when bowling in international cricket. But he was keen to spread the praise around England’s other newcomers, six of whom experienced a Test victory for the first time at the Ageas Bowl.
“It was a bit of a scramble for the stumps there at the end – I’d forgotten how many of the lads hadn’t won a Test before,” added Cook, for whom this was a 43rd win in 107 Tests, and a 10th in 27 as captain. “That’s very important – now they know what it’s like.”“It was a bit of a scramble for the stumps there at the end – I’d forgotten how many of the lads hadn’t won a Test before,” added Cook, for whom this was a 43rd win in 107 Tests, and a 10th in 27 as captain. “That’s very important – now they know what it’s like.”
Of those other first-time winners, Sam Robson, like Moeen, was playing in his fifth Test, Gary Ballance his sixth, Chris Jordan his third and Jos Buttler his first. “A brilliant debut,” Cook said. “The biggest thing is nobody is speaking about his keeping.”Of those other first-time winners, Sam Robson, like Moeen, was playing in his fifth Test, Gary Ballance his sixth, Chris Jordan his third and Jos Buttler his first. “A brilliant debut,” Cook said. “The biggest thing is nobody is speaking about his keeping.”
But it was Chris Woakes, making his second Test appearance 11 months after his debut against Australia at The Oval, who earned a mention from Cook and Anderson, despite a failure in 31 overs to add to the single wicket he collected in Kennington. “He’s walking out of the Test without a wicket but he bowled fantastically well,” Jimmy Anderson said.But it was Chris Woakes, making his second Test appearance 11 months after his debut against Australia at The Oval, who earned a mention from Cook and Anderson, despite a failure in 31 overs to add to the single wicket he collected in Kennington. “He’s walking out of the Test without a wicket but he bowled fantastically well,” Jimmy Anderson said.
“I’m going to mention Chris Woakes as well,” Cook added. “To bowl at that pace and have that control was fantastic.” It sounds like Woakes will keep his place at Old Trafford whether Anderson is available or not. Cook added: “I’m going to mention Chris Woakes as well. To bowl at that pace and have that control was fantastic.” It sounds like Woakes will keep his place at Old Trafford whether Anderson is available or not.
There was one final sting in the tail from Dhoni, who was asked whether he might finally have changed his sceptical view of the Decision Review System after a number of close calls went against India. “No” he said, quietly but emphatically. “There’s an interesting thing you know. There was a ball that clipped Pujara’s inner thigh but it showed that the ball hit the stumps. The ball went to wicketkeeper and it didn’t touch the bails at all. So maybe that shows how accurate the DRS is.” It appears that Indian rules will continue to apply. There was one final sting in the tail from Dhoni, who was asked whether he might finally have changed his sceptical view of the Decision Review System after a number of close calls went against India. “No” he said, quietly but emphatically. “There’s an interesting thing, you know. There was a ball that clipped Pujara’s inner thigh but it showed that the ball hit the stumps. The ball went to wicketkeeper and it didn’t touch the bails at all. So maybe that shows how accurate the DRS is.” It appears that Indian rules will continue to apply.