After winning the fourth Test against India at The Rose Bowl (Southampton) and securing the five-match Test series by leading it 3-1, English Test skipper Joe Root has impressed with the strength and depth of the English side while he has felt that Moeen Ali has bowled his best for England on the fourth day of the Test match.
Since the Auckland Test against the hosts New Zealand in last March, Ali played his first Test during the Southampton Test. After scoring a crucial 40 runs in the first innings, Ali picked up five-wickets (5/63) during India’s first innings of this Test that denied a big lead for the visitors. On the day four of the Test match, Ali once again produced the brilliant bowling performance in the fourth innings where India was chasing 245 runs to win the game but was bowled out for just 184 runs and lost by 60 runs. In the fourth innings, Ali bagged four more wickets with the bowling figure of 26-3-71-4, including the dismissals of the set Indian batsmen skipper Virat Kohli (58) and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (51).
After winning the Test match, the English Test skipper Joe Root has claimed that it was Ali’s best ever bowling performance in the international cricket.
Root said, “Today was probably the best I have seen him (Moeen) bowl in an England shirt. Such a testament to how he’s gone about things. That strength and depth of the squad really excites me. When you’re in the form he’s in, it’s a nice luxury to have (about playing him at three).”
Ali had a match bowling figure of 42-4-134-9 which is the best bowling figure in a Test match by an English spinner against India on the English soil.
Root also praised the 20-year-old Sam Curran who has put a massive influence not only in this game, in this series too.
Talking about the young guy, Root said, “For a young guy (Curran) to have such an influence is outstanding. Credit to the group, they were outstanding throughout. From being up against it on the first morning, character has been a massive strength of this team. Then the skill level to back it up has been phenomenal.”
Root also credited every English bowler to bowl superbly on the fourth day of this Test match that secured a great victory for them.
The English Test captain told, “For the seamers, it was about hitting the surface as hard as possible and for spinners it was about being as aggressive as possible. Keep the catchers in and trust that there would be one ball that would turn the game around. The way we went about how to approach the day’s play was outstanding.”
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Meanwhile, the Player of the Match award winner Moeen Ali has felt great to return to the Test cricket which he has claimed to miss a lot of.
Ali stated, “It was great to be back. I have missed Test cricket a lot. Needed a break. Just to appreciate everything in general. To enjoy my cricket again. When I was watching the guys at home, I missed it. Great to come back and contribute to winning a game. Playing in England for a while now, back myself a bit more.”
Ali earned his Test recall after scoring a brilliant double-century and taking six wickets in an innings in the same domestic first-class game for Worcestershire against Yorkshire. The 31-year-old claimed that he is feeling more confident on his ability and credited the County cricket for it.
Ali said, “Got more confidence from county cricket. Done a lot of hard work with Saqlain (spin consultant Saqlain Mushtaq). Feel like I’m getting better as a spinner everyday. When they were about eight down, Root asked me if I fancied it (batting at three). Did enjoy the 15 balls I faced. If I do bat there again, I need to tighten up. Something I’m not thinking much about.”
