Veteran English all-rounder Moeen Ali recently faced repercussions for a breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct during the first Test of the Ashes 2023 series. In an attempt to manage a blister on his index finger, Moeen applied a drying agent, but this action was deemed against the rules. Consequently, he received a 25% fine on his match fee. It is noteworthy that Moeen had come out of retirement specifically for the Ashes series, replacing the injured Jack Leach.
Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg shared his perspective on the situation through a tweet, suggesting that Moeen could have discreetly applied the drying agent indoors before returning to the field. Hogg believed that Moeen’s open display of using the agent was fair play and questioned the severity of the 25% fine imposed.
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“25% fine for this is a bit of ‘overspin’ on the issue when you know Moeen was not using it for any other purpose than to prevent his blister getting worse! He could have left the ground repeatedly disguising the spray but did it openly. Fair play given the finger!” tweeted Brad Hogg.
25% fine for this is a bit of ‘overspin’ on the issue when you know Moeen was not using it for any other purpose than to prevent his blister getting worse!
He could of left the ground repeatedly disguising the spray but did it openly.
Fair play given the finger!#Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/RV2KoYtCWt
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) June 19, 2023
Shifting the focus to the game itself, the Australian team showcased an impressive batting display in the first innings. England declared at 393/8, and Australia responded with a commendable score of 386, led by opener Usman Khawaja. The 36-year-old displayed his skills with a magnificent knock of 141 runs off 321 balls, emerging as the highest scorer for Australia in the first innings.
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As the match progresses to Day 4, England, holding a slender seven-run lead in the second innings, faced a challenging start as both openers failed to make a significant impact. Zak Crawley was dismissed for seven runs, while Ben Duckett returned to the pavilion after scoring 19 runs. The onus now lies on Joe Root and Ollie Pope to build a substantial target for the visiting Australian team.
