Six days after Moeen Ali ended the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston as a bystander, a raw patch on his spinning finger preventing him from contributing fully to England’s failed attempt to dismiss Australia’s lower order, the off-spinner is expected to be declared fit for the second game at Lord’s starting on Wednesday after bowling in training apparently without pain.
Ollie Pope, England’s vice-captain, saw enough to conclude Moeen would be available for selection when the team is decided, probably on Tuesday. “Mo’s all good,” Pope said. “I’m sure he’s sweet. Those few days have helped. I’ve not looked at the injury, but I’m sure he’s all good.”
Rehan Ahmed, who was added to the squad on Friday to provide spin-bowling cover, also played a full part in training. But on a pitch that had plenty of fresh grass on it two days out, Pope suggested spin might be less influential than it proved at Edgbaston – which given that Australia’s Nathan Lyon took eight wickets on that surface would probably be to England’s benefit.
“That pitch was probably more suited to him than a lot of other English pitches,” Pope said of Lyon. “I think we’re going to keep being really positive against him and try and take our strong options. Those eight wickets he got will make us think, ‘What was the best option for me?’ a little bit more.
“That’s the way we see it. We don’t see it as changing things, just batters might alter their way of playing him but try and take him on. He’s a highly-skilled bowler and knows how to bowl when people are coming at him as well, so it’s going to be a good game of cat and mouse.”
In the first Test three English batters – Jonny Bairstow and Moeen in the first innings, and Joe Root in the second – were stumped off Lyon deliveries, but like the match itself there is no feeling that a significant change of approach is required.
“We played a pretty solid game at Edgbaston,” Pope said. “Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the result, but we’ve got to trust what we’ve been doing. We need to keep that positive mindset and keep that positive chat around the changing room.
“We were gutted at the end of the game to lose, as you should be. But we spoke positively about the game, we spoke about what we did well and what we can improve on this week. There’s no fear of losing, that’s something this team’s never going to have. If we go 2-0 down we’ll see it as a chance to win 3-2. That’s just the mindset we want to have and will hopefully stand us in good stead across the series.”
Meanwhile, Ahmed has described his call-up to England’s squad for Lord’s as a dream and something that “means everything”. The 18-year-old became the youngest male to play Test cricket for England in December when selected during the Pakistan series, and marked his debut with a stunning five-wicket haul in Karachi.
“To be part of an Ashes squad at my age, at Lord’s as well, I never saw it coming so it is lovely to be a part of,” he said. “It means everything. I would never have dreamed this.
“I was actually with my brother when Baz [Brendon McCullum] called me, but my mum and dad found out straight away, and a couple of my friends. Baz said I would be joining up with the squad for the next couple of games. He was so chilled about it but I was on the phone a bit panicky but just happy.”
