The English all-rounder Moeen Ali took five for 41 in 10 overs on Day 2 of the Southampton Test and this performance will boost his confidence especially because of the fact that he was dropped from the squad for the first three Tests of the ongoing five-match series. During his spell, he ably exploited rough created by the Indian pacers and combined it with flight and good changes of pace to produce the best spin-bowling performance of the series.

Ali also becomes the first English spinner to take a five-wicket haul in the first innings of a Test match at home since 2013. Some sloppy Indian batting also helped, as they slumped to 195 for eight by the time Moeen took his fifth wicket when Sharma was caught at short leg.

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Talking about his spell, Ali said, “For me, it was about moving on and hoping it made me a better player, a stronger character. It was about going out there performing for my country knowing I can do well here in England because I have done it before. Yes, it was a bad winter but I shrugged it off.”

It was at the Ageas Bowl four years ago that Moeen took six for 67 against India in a crucial Test win that saved Alastair Cook’s captaincy. He wasn’t used well in the first half of India’s innings. He also that he wanted to bowl at Bumrah and aim for another 6-fer but skipper Joe Root had other plans to bring in pace.

Moeen concluded, “From the first over I bowled today, I felt quite good and I was a bit disappointed Rooty took me off but then he brought me back on. I wanted to stay on, especially when Bumrah was on strike but I think Joe wanted a bit of pace against him to see what happened. Instead of having to rediscover form in Test cricket, impossible for all but the best, being dropped gave him the rare chance in this era to play some county games in a more comfortable environment away from the forensic scrutiny of England.”