Curran Brothers cricket: Why are Moeen Ali and Mark Wood not playing today’s second ODI between England and Australia at Old Trafford?

Moeen Ali and Mark Wood not playing: England have made a couple of changes to their Playing XI for the second ODI.

During the second ODI of the ongoing Australia’s tour of England in Manchester, England have won the toss and elected to bat in a bid to draw level the three-match ODI series.

Coming on the back of a 19-run victory, Australia surprised one and all by not including premier batsman Steve Smith into their Playing XI. Despite Smith passing two concussion tests before this match, Australia have decided to rest him as a “precautionary measure“.

“Would’ve batted too, it’s a used wicket. Going with the same team, [Mitchell] Starc has pulled up fine. He’s a professional and loves a contest. The way we fought back in the middle overs was really impressive. Then the first 10 overs we bowled really well,” Australia captain Aaron Finch said during the toss.

Why are Moeen Ali and Mark Wood not playing vs Australia?

With the series on the line, England have made a couple of changes to their Playing XI. The development means that all-rounder Moeen Ali and fast bowler Mark Wood have been benched for all-rounder Sam Curran and fast bowler Tom Curran.

England captain Eoin Morgan explained both the changes saying that Wood hasn’t pulled up as well as the team management would’ve liked. Ali, on the other hand, has been dropped as part of a tactical change as Morgan feels the surface didn’t assist the spinners as much in the first ODI.

“Wicket’s the same that was used the other day. Might potentially get worse this afternoon. Didn’t spin as much as we thought. But if you hit the right areas no matter what the bowler, it did a bit. Sam [Curran] in for [Mark] Wood, who hasn’t pulled up as we’d have liked. Leaving Moeen [Ali] out a tactical change,” Morgan said.