Moeen Ali set to earn promotion to bat at No.3 for England in Fifth Test against India
Moeen is inked in to bat up the order at the Oval on Friday a week after batting at No.7 in his first Test innings of summer
MOEEN ALI has been handed the chance to become a permanent No.3 as England try again to solve their batting problems.
This latest twist shows Alastair Cook is departing Test cricket with a string of unanswered questions hanging over Joe Root’s team.
Cook might have been a constant for more than 12 years – and ever-present for England’s last 158 Tests – but he leaves with the team engulfed by confusion and uncertainty.
Moeen is slated to bat at three against India at the Oval on Friday a week after batting at No.7 in his first Test innings of the summer.
And he was selected for that match mainly because England were worried about Ben Stokes’ ability to bowl.
Now he has been shunted up the order to allow captain Root to revert to his favourite position at No.4.
England made the switch halfway through their 60-run victory in the Fourth Test and Moeen was out for nine in the second innings. He took nine wickets in the match with his off-spinners.
It makes sense for Root to bat where he wants because he is the best player. Moeen has been chosen at three ahead of the likes of Rory Burns, James Vince, Jonny Bairstow or even Ian Bell.
And Moeen can keep the job for the Test series in Sri Lanka in November, where the slow, low pitches will not expose his vulnerability to the short ball.
Head coach Trevor Bayliss said: “We have winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies and Mo plays spin reasonably well so he is a chance at No.3.
“In spinning conditions, he can cover the No.3 position pretty well. His challenge will be on the faster wickets but we haven’t got any of those for a while. He jumped at the chance to bat at three in the second innings in Southampton.
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“Joe has always said he wants to bat at four but I thought it best for the team if he batted at three. Hopefully, we can find someone who can do a decent job at No.3 and Joe can settle where he feels most comfortable.”
Former England coach David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd reckons Cook should be omitted from the final Test so the rebuilding process can start immediately.
But that is a minority view and most are happy for Cook, perhaps somewhat self-consciously, to accept the cheers and backslaps that are sure to come his way.
Surrey will present Cook with a bottle of vintage Bordeaux from 2006 – the year of his Test debut – but the retiring batsman says he doesn’t want a fuss.
Cook’s wife Alice is about to give birth to their third child but he is determined to play.
Even though England seem certain to name an unchanged XI for Cook’s valedictory Test appearance, the puzzles are piling up.
And it starts at the top. Who are on earth will be England’s best opening batsmen in the post-Cook era? Keaton Jennings, Joe Denly and Burns could all tour Sri Lanka with a decision not finalised until the eve of the First Test over there.
England took the unusual step of naming their squad without publicly stating whether Jos Buttler or Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket – although Buttler is odds-on to get the job.
Bairstow’s fractured finger has recovered enough for him to wear the gloves but Root and Bayliss now lean towards Buttler. That despite Bairstow’s role as batsman/wicketkeeper being one of the strengths of the Test team over the past two years.