Even though all-rounder Moeen Ali has been named in England’s Playing XI for the first Ashes 2023 Test match against Australia, former captain Michael Atherton continues to be not in favour of the decision. With Ali coming out of retirement as a last-minute replacement for spinner Jack Leach, the move hasn’t gone down too well with a lot of traditionalists around the world.
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Set to turn 36 during the Birmingham Test, Ali will be playing at his home ground on his birthday. Atherton, however, considers Ali’s selection as “amazing” before also expressing excitement with respect to his batting “fitting the mould” of the English Test regime in a recent interaction with Sky Sports.
“Well, I wouldn’t have picked Moeen Ali. But I’m not Ben Stokes. I’m not Bazball. It’s a selection which is amazing when you think about it because Mooen Ali had retired from Test cricket. Hasn’t played Test cricket since September 2021. Had a conversation with [head coach] Brendon McCullum regarding coming back for the Pakistan tour [last year] and said that he’s done with that. He’s checked out of first-class and Test cricket.”
Michael Atherton Names His Ashes 2023 Replacements For Jack Leach
Atherton further opined that he would’ve picked any one out of all-rounders Liam Dawson or Will Jacks to replace Leach for the first two Tests. While Dawson had played the last of his three Tests almost six years ago, both Jacks’ Tests had come in Pakistan in December 2022.
Although Atherton didn’t highlight any superlative numbers regarding either Dawson or Jacks, his primary criteria for selection was them being active first-class cricketers unlike Ali.
“I would have picked a special spinner. I would’ve picked Liam Dawson, [or] Will Jacks or somebody playing first-class cricket currently. Which is not to say Moeen Ali won’t do well. Wish him all the best.”
While it is true that England going back to Ali has denied a Test comeback to one of their consistent performers in County cricket, the same happening under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes is not astonishing by any means.
“It’s A Puzzle” – Atherton On Stokes’ Bowling Status
Atherton sounded like a large majority of English fans when asked about his opinion on the probability of Stokes bowling in the first Test at Edgbaston. Despite the fact that Stokes had talked about giving himself the best chance to bowl in a one-off Test against Ireland earlier this month, he wasn’t required to either bowl or bat.
Atherton believes that England picked veteran pacer Stuart Broad ahead of fast bowler Mark Wood taking into consideration the presence of Stokes and Ali in their bowling unit. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, the remaining two pacers, haven’t played a Test since February. That said, the 55-year old was confident of Stokes stepping up on a big stage such as an Ashes series.
“It’s a puzzle. We don’t know, really. As you say, had a longer bowl in the nets today. We’ve seen him gradually build-up. He bowled for 10-15 minutes before the Ireland Test. Hasn’t bowled for a long time. Fingers crossed for Ben Stokes. He’s the kind of cricketer who gets himself right for the big occasion. He might have to bowl with pain. His pain threshold is high.”
