Harry Brook and Moeen Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter/ECB)
England skipper Ben Stokes turned a few heads when he recalled Moeen Ali to the Test squad for the Ashes after Jack Leach’s unfortunate injury. However, his decision proved to be a masterstroke after the veteran spinner cleaned up his young counterpart Cameron Green with an absolute ripper.
The home side were on top of the proceedings after Travis Head departed following a counterattacking innings. However, Cameron Green held fort from one end along with a determined Usman Khawaja to frustrate the English bowlers.
Green was afforded a life in the initial stages of his innings against Moeen Ali after Jonny Bairstow missed a tough stumping chance. The towering all-rounder played an uncharacteristically sluggish innings. But just when the young dasher started to open his shoulders, he was completely undone by Moeen’s magical delivery.
“LOL”#EnglandCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/hNHY3Owd0s
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 17, 2023
The veteran offspinner dished out a loopy delivery, enticing Green into a drive, only for the ball to turn sharply and rattle the stumps, completing a classical offspinner’s dismissal. It was Moeen’s second wicket of the day as the English skipper’s persistence with the all-rounder landed a major breakthrough for the hosts on a day of attrition.