English all-rounder Moeen Ali spoke on his form with the bat ahead of the first Ashes Test. He said that he understood his role primarily as a bowler and will be trying to add a lot more to his wickets column.
Moeen admitted that his batting skills have been a problem for some time now. Speaking on the same he wrote “I have always been a player whose form goes up and down but at the moment I feel my batting confidence is at its lowest. Negative comments can affect you and they probably have. I know I play some horrendous shots at times but, when I do, I feel I attract more stick for it than others“, in a column in “The Guardian”.
Moeen was in and out of the side during their successful World Cup stint. He batted in almost all the possible slots in test cricket. However, as time flew he became an integral part of the bowling department. Playing 58 games, he added 178 scalps to his bag in the longest format of the game. The 32-year-old in all means will be at number 8 slot in the Ashes series unless an abnormal situation demands.
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“The fact is, my bowling is why I am in the Test team right now and on the form, rightly so. Runs are important, don’t get me wrong, but it will be wickets that I will be judged on“, concluded Moeen.
Moeen finds his place in the first test
The stage is all set for the first Ashes test tomorrow in Birmingham. The series also marks the beginning of the ICC test Championship. It will also be interesting to see how the latest ICC rules will play a part in this series.
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The English side has just announced the squad for the first game. Moeen Ali cemented his spot but super-over hero Jofra Archer has to wait for his Test cap.