Moeen Ali is more than happy to put team before self after moving to No 3 for the must-win fourth Ashes Test starting on Wednesday. And when it comes to England fielding one of the most senior attacks in history, the all-rounder’s verdict is simple: old is gold.
Jimmy Anderson’s return to face Australia on his home ground in place of Ollie Robinson represents England’s one change from the three-wicket victory at Headingley last week, with Moeen’s move from No 7 to first drop – initially a one-off for that day-four run chase in Leeds – now a permanent tactical switch.
About to turn 41 years old, Anderson’s recall means it will be the first time England have played four seamers over the age of 33, with Stuart Broad (37), Chris Woakes (34) and Mark Wood (33) making up the quartet. Ben Stokes (32) may yet bowl as England look to square the series at 2-2 and set up an Oval decider – he did some light work on Monday – while the 36-year-old Moeen is the spin option.
“I was always told that old is gold,” Moeen said, speaking after England named their XI some 48 hours before the toss at Old Trafford. “Somebody told me it was the oldest [Ashes] attack since 1928 – I think it’s a great thing to be part of.
“One thing is, you know what you’re going to get a lot of the time. Especially from those four seamers. I mean, myself, you never know what you’re going to get. But those guys you definitely know how good they are. It’s great to have Jimmy back.”
As well as advancing years, a combined 1,974 wickets among the England XI – including part-timers such as Joe Root and even Harry Brook – makes it a record for any side. Moeen’s personal tally is 200 and there is an extra milestone looming, the left-hander is only 23 runs away from 3,000 in Test cricket – something that would make him just the 16th man to reach this all-rounder’s double.
“I think that means more to my dad. It would mean a lot to me as well but my dad is the one who is buzzing for it, so hopefully I can get there,” said Moeen who, were he to get there in his 67th Test this week, would be two matches quicker than a local hero in Andrew Flintoff. “I know it’s only 20-odd runs but it feels like miles off. When I look back on my career, 200 wickets is the one thing I can be proud about.”
This self-effacing comment neatly sums up Moeen’s Test career, with the all-rounder admitting his longevity owes much to the off-breaks that have exceeded expectations and his flexibility. Nothing embodies this like the recent promotion in the batting order, a move which looks like a genuine hail mary from Stokes and the head coach, Brendon McCullum, even if the bulk of his county career was at No 3, averaging 48.91 there.
But then this is just the latest twist in an eventful summer for Moeen. Having come out of Test retirement at short notice, he picked up an OBE at Windsor Castle, was fined for using spray on his sore spinning finger at Edgbaston – an injury since cured with Manuka honey gel recommended by a supporter he hopes to track down – and then broke the Headingley Test open by removing Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the space of nine balls.
Moeen said: “Things happen for a reason. I genuinely believe that. That’s why when the call came, I thought it’s an opportunity I can’t turn down. I’m big one on faith and destiny and all that. It would be amazing to win an Ashes and finish Test cricket properly.”
It is clear that Moeen intends to once again retire from Test cricket after this summer, meaning England must address their spin stocks come the tour of India next January. Right now he is back trying to think like a frontline batter, however, and hopes his move allows Brook to continue the form at No 5 that returned a pivotal 75 last week.
Moeen said: “I’m past the stage where it’s about me, averages or anything like that. I’ve always been a player where what I feel like is best for the team. If I come off once in four knocks – if I do play the next one – and chip in in the other innings, it’ll be a decent job done. This could be my last game or so and I’d rather finish at No 3 for England.”
While England have again shown their hand early, Australia are still considering their best XI. Josh Hazlewood is expected to replace Scott Boland among the seamers but how they accommodate both Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green after the latter’s return from a hamstring niggle is not obvious, unless the spinner Todd Murphy drops out.
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.
Moeen, who averages 18 with the ball at Old Trafford, believes a spinner is essential on the ground, however, and is intrigued to see how Murphy is used after the 22-year-old struggled to catch the eye of Pat Cummins, his captain, at Headingley.
“Todd looks good,” he said. “[But] it’s not always easy to use somebody who’s pretty new into the side, especially a spinner, and I think that’s where captaincy really comes into it now. When you’ve got a good spinner like Graeme Swann used to be, or Nathan Lyon, it’s quite easy. But now, I think for Pat it will be a test of real captaincy.”
