Harbhajan Singh and Moeen Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Moeen Ali came out of Test retirement to play in the ongoing Ashes in England and featured in the first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. After bowling just 26 overs in two months of the Indian Premier League, Ali bowled 29 overs on Day 2 alone. The long day at work for the off-spinner caused a blister on his finger. In the 89th over of Australia’s first innings, Ali was seen applying a drying agent on his bowling hand near the boundary line.
The International Cricket Council handed Ali a 25% fine on his match fee from the first Test for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The veteran cricketer also earned one demerit point. He accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft. Since then, a lot has been said about the incident on social media, with some scathing remarks coming in the direction of the 36-year-old.
Former India off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh, came out in support of Ali on Twitter, stating that he is baffled by so much talk around Ali using spray on his finger to get relief from the blister. However, Harbhajan added that the only thing the England player could have done differently was to inform the umpires prior to applying the spray.
“Don’t understand so much chatter around Moen Ali using spray on spinning fingers to numb the pain. Only issue is he should have informed the umpires, but if batsman gets a blister under the gloves, and he gets a spray. Will anyone even notice. Same logic, think about it ? #Ashes2023”
Don’t understand so much chatter around Moen Ali using spray on spinning fingers to numb the pain. Only issue is he should have informed the umpires, but if batsman gets a blister under the gloves, and he gets a spray. Will anyone even notice. Same logic, think about it ?…
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 20, 2023
Australia go 1-0 up in the Ashes
England persisted with their ‘Bazball’ approach, but Australia countered it by sticking to the orthodox Test cricket philosophy in the first Test. Usman Khawaja (34*) and Scott Boland (13*) resumed batting on Day 5 for Australia as they were in pursuit of the target of 281 runs.
Australia needed 174 runs in 67 overs on Day 5 with seven wickets in hand. Overs were lost due to a rain delay in the early goings on Day 5. Khawaja scored a crucial 65 in addition to his hundred in the first innings. England kept fighting and had Australia in trouble at 227/8 with 54 runs still in the bank. However, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins played a crucial unbeaten 44-run knock and had invaluable support from Nathan Lyon (16*) to take Australia home with two wickets to spare.
The second Ashes Test starts on Wednesday, June 28, at Lord’s, London.