With uncertainty surrounding Moeen Ali’s fitness and participation in the Lord’s Test, former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that the hosts can field four seamers in their bowling attack and rely solely on Joe Root’s deft off-spin.
Rehan Ahmed, who was extraordinary for the Three Lions at the 2022 U19 World Cup in the West Indies, finishing as the team’s second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, has not slowed down in county cricket since then and continues to impress. He has been introduced as a replacement for Moeen, who is currently suffering from finger blisters and is in a race to be fit for the second Test at Lord’s.
Though Rehan’s inclusion has garnered a great deal of attention, Hussain believes that the Ben Stokes-led side should go with an additional seam bowling option if the Lord’s wicket appears conducive to pace and if the weather conditions contribute to the same.
Nasser discussed Moeen’s injury from the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston and drew attention to the fact that the English all-rounder had dealt with the same injury in 2017. Hussain stated that Lord’s has never been a spin-friendly venue and argued for the inclusion of an additional seam bowler to England’s bowling attack.
“I believe they need to reevaluate their squad. “Moeen Ali, his finger, would be a gamble,” Hussain said on the podcast The ICC Review.
“I am aware that he has a week off and that he suffered this injury in 2017. Only Moeen will know if a week is sufficient for the epidermis to heal or if it will rip open again.
“At Lord’s, he may not bowl as many overs. Lord’s is not a sanctuary of spinning wheels. There, Shane Warne never had a five-for.
“I could play four seamers and Joe Root as your spinner, but I haven’t seen the pitch yet.”
Nasser Hussain opined that England should replace Moeen with either the raw pace of Mark Wood or Chris Woakes, who has had tremendous success at Lord’s and is also a capable lower-order batsman.
“He would likely have to replace Moeen and you’d have to use Joe Root as your spinner, so go with four seamers or Chris Woakes,” Nasser Hussain advised.
“Chris Woakes has an outstanding record at Lord’s, and adding another all-rounder would strengthen the attack.
“So either Woakes or Wood for Moeen Ali.”
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