As criticism continues to fall on Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow goes into bat for the battling spinner

JONNY Bairstow has launched a passionate defence of Moeen Ali, claiming the battling spinner’s capabilities are beyond question as his place in the England squad comes under question.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Moeen Ali of England and Jonny Bairstow of England look on during an England Nets Session at Adelaide Oval on November 30, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

JONNY Bairstow has declared it will be impossible for England to leave Moeen Ali out of the Sydney Test, after claiming the battling spinner’s capabilities are beyond question.

Moeen’s confidence appears to have plummeted to the point he is simply making up the numbers in an England team down 3-0, and several greats led by Michael Vaughan have stated that leg-spinner Mason Crane ought to be an automatic selection at the SCG.

England are planning to enjoy the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, although as Bairstow — of Cameron Bancroft headbutt fame — was quick to lightheartedly point out, they would be the “9pm” ones, in honour of their midnight curfew.

Bairstow has gone into bat for Ali

Crane starred in one match for NSW at the SCG last season — the first Englishman to pull on a baggy blue in over 100 years — and although he may not be the finished article either, Vaughan and others believe it would be crazy to bring him to Australia and not give him a game with nothing left to lose.

However, if Bairstow’s impassioned backing of Moeen is anything to go by, England will be unchanged going into Sydney.

Moeen didn’t take a wicket in Melbourne and in a telling blow, captain Joe Root preferred to bowl himself and part-time leggie Dawid Malan on the final day at the MCG when England were sniffing victory.

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Dropping him would leave a thinner batting line-up, although Moeen’s meek first-innings surrender in the Boxing Day Test would suggest England wouldn’t lose a whole lot promoting Chris Woakes to No.7.

Bairstow says England will pick their best XI and in his opinion, Moeen is in that side any day of the week — predicting he will also play a key role on the upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.

“Absolutely, yeah. The guy is second fastest ever to 2000 runs and 100 Test wickets so I think that’s unquestionable to even think he’s not in that best XI,” said Bairstow.

“He wouldn’t have played the first four Test matches if he’s not in that first XI and I think there’s not many finger spinners that have come to Australia and bowled teams out.

“So it’s very important we get behind Moeen. He can take a game away from you. And whether it be this next game or the first Test match in New Zealand, the talent and the capabilities of Moeen Ali is unquestionable.”

Will Ali be dropped for the final Test?

Privately, England figures worry about the impact dropping Moeen could have on his already deflated confidence.

Despite being a Test player of serious note and ability, this tour has exposed Moeen’s lack of self-belief, as he even went about trying to change his bowling technique mid innings in the second Test in Adelaide.

However, his outstanding record would suggest he’s a long-term England player and selectors will be weighing up whether it’s worth dropping him for one Test, if they plan on welcoming him back with open arms in New Zealand and in the home summer when pitches are less bouncy.

If young leg-spinner Crane plays, Bairstow admits he has little experience keeping to the Stuart MacGill protégé.

“Not much, but I’ve kept to him in the practice games and things like that. He’s bowling nicely,” said Bairstow.

“You’ve got to play your best team and we’re still in it to win games of cricket.”

Bairstow said veteran quicks Jimmy Anderson, 35, and Stuart Broad, 31, had pulled up well and will back-up in Sydney despite their arduous workloads across the past two Tests in Perth and Melbourne.

Originally published as As criticism continues to fall on Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow goes into bat for the battling spinner