Mercurial spinner proves he is the polar opposite to Jack Leach with a performance of highs and lows on return from Test exile
“Ashes?” “Lol.” And so, after a two-word WhatsApp exchange and a two-year break, Moeen Ali is back at the top of his mark. There’s a roar of approval as his name is announced, a newish red ball in his hand and a fresh page to be written. Moeen has bowled 11,854 balls in Test cricket and most of them, like most of everything, have been instantly forgettable. But then there are the ones you remember.
For his nine years in international cricket this has been the eternal illusion of Moeen: a cricketer in whom you can see whatever you want to see. Do you see the boundary balls or the magic balls? The soaring sixes or the squandered starts? Even his abrupt recall – by Ben Stokes, via text – felt like its own little self-contained paradox. It was the bold call. It was the safe call. It was a counterintuitive gamble. It was a grave insult to county cricket. He was going to take vital Australia wickets. He was going to get collared.
