England delay naming Lord’s XI but Moeen Ali plays full part in training

By Charlie On Jun 26, 2023

Moeen Ali played a full part in training at Lord’s on Monday morning but England opted against naming their XI two days before the second Test against Australia as they await clarity on the status of his spinning finger.

England have selected and announced a team two days before the start of their first two Tests of the summer, against Ireland and Australia, but decided against doing so at Lord’s. Their selection decisions surround the identity of their bowling attack and how they will take 20 wickets on a pitch covered with live grass 48 hours from the toss.

Moeen was in clear discomfort during the first Test at Edgbaston, splitting the skin on the first knuckle of his spinning finger and struggling to grip the ball as a result. England suggest that he has benefitted from the gap between Tests, but have called up Rehan Ahmed as cover, who batted and bowled in the nets after linking up with the squad in London on Sunday.

Jack Leach, who was ruled out of the summer with a lower-back stress fracture earlier this month, was invited to England’s training session on Monday and was seen in conversation with Moeen – whose decision to reverse his retirement from Test cricket came about as a direct consequence of Leach’s injury.

Brendon McCullum indicated after England’s two-wicket defeat in Birmingham that Moeen will play if he is fully fit. He was seen examining his spinning finger in the company of Glen Rae, England’s team physician, as well as spin-bowling coach Jeetan Patel – though Ollie Pope suggested Moeen would be “all good” to play.

“I think Mo’s all good,” Pope, England’s vice-captain, said after training. “It was pretty unfortunate what happened, and hopefully over these few days it has looked after itself and hopefully he is fit to play. I’m sure he’s sweet – those few days have helped.”

If Moeen is unavailable, England face a choice between selecting an extra seamer – thereby relying on Joe Root’s offspin – or throwing the 18-year-old Rehan straight into an Ashes Test. Pope suggested that any such decision would depend on the nature of the pitch.

“To be honest, it depends what the wicket looks like,” he said. “We know Lord’s can be [seam] bowler-friendly sometimes but we have seen the role Leachy has played over the last year on bowler-friendly conditions as well – so it is a great option to have.”

England have stressed that Rehan is with the squad as cover – but did the same in the UAE last year, straight before he was added to the Test squad to tour Pakistan, where he made his debut. He told their in-house channels on Monday that his call-up “means everything” to him.

“Baz gave me a call on Friday morning and basically told me I was going to come in and join up with the lads,” Rehan said. “I would never have dreamed this, to be part of an Ashes squad at my age – at Lord’s as well. I never saw it coming.”

England will also have to weigh up the identity of their seam attack, with Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood the four fast bowlers in the squad who did not feature in Birmingham. Wood’s extra pace will make him a tempting option, while Woakes’ stellar record at Lord’s cannot be discounted.

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