The Ashes 2017: England all-rounder Moeen Ali battling to overcome injury
STAR all-rounder Moeen Ali faces a nervous week to see if he can overcome an injury to his spinning finger in time for the second Test in Adelaide starting on Saturday.
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ENGLAND’S looming loss in Brisbane has been compounded by a fresh crisis, with star all-rounder Moeen Ali battling an injury to his spinning finger.
Ali tried to put on a brave face, but it’s clear he is being affected by a cut he suffered during the first innings, and it showed as he was belted at nearly six an over for the four overs he bowled on Sunday night.
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Former England great Graeme Swann declared Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has schooled his opposite in Brisbane, and if the tourists are to bounce back this series they will need Ali to fire.
Cuts to spinning fingers can prove debilitating and Ali faces a nervous week to see if he can get his finger right for the second Test in Adelaide starting on Saturday.
“The first thing is after about 15 overs I ripped my spinning finger and it’s not been easy since then,” admitted a frank Ali after play.
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“I’ve had to glue it and file it and things like that with the physio to try and keep it hard.
“But it’s not been easy I guess. I think today was a day where I actually felt all right and I just didn’t bowl that well.”
Ali said he was taking personal responsibility for getting controversially stumped by Tim Paine off the bowling of Nathan Lyon at a time when he and Jonny Bairstow could have built a match-turning partnership.
The star all-rounder — who is crucial to England’s make-up, particularly with no Ben Stokes — said the side had let itself down with the bat in both innings and are now paying the ultimate price.
Swann said England needed more from Ali with the ball, particularly in the face of Lyon’s form surge.
“Moeen Ali has been half the bowler Nathan Lyon has,” said Swann on BT Sports.
“I don’t believe all five of those bowlers walked on the field thinking they can win this game.”
Ali admitted that England’s likely loss proved that they were badly missing their superstar matchwinner Stokes, who is currently in UK, suspended until further notice after he became embroiled in a late-night incident a couple of months ago.
In an honest press conference, Ali said Stokes’ absence had altered their cohesion as a batting unit.
“Obviously he’s a very good player and one of our best players in the last few years,” Moeen told reporters.
“And him coming in at six the way we know he can play on these sorts of wickets, with the ball and his attitude in general ... he’s always going to be missed.
“He’s a big part of this team and the balance that he gives us ... we can get those lower-order runs as well.
“It’s quite dangerous then with guys who come down and we know they can score big runs and have those partnerships that stop the clusters in losing your wickets.
“We know he’s not here ... we’ve got to get on with it really.”