Ben Stokes says the decision to ask Moeen Ali out of Test retirement was based on trusting his gut over his brain, as the England captain issued a positive update on his own bowling fitness ahead of the start of the Ashes on Friday.
Moeen is set to play his first Test match in almost two years when the series begins at Edgbaston in less than 24 hours’ time, the 36-year-old answering an SOS from Stokes and Brendon McCullum after Jack Leach was ruled out for the summer having suffered a stress fracture of the back.
Stokes turned to Moeen ahead of the likes of Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson despite the all-rounder’s long absence from red-ball cricket, and the fact he had already turned down a recall for last year’s tour of Pakistan.
“A player like Mo, who I have seen put in some unbelievable match winning performances, albeit a long time ago, was something I couldn’t look past,” Stokes explained. “That was a stomach and a heart feeling, rather than my brain. Generally, I have stuck with my heart and my gut throughout my captaincy so far. Moeen Ali is going to come in here and I am looking at what he can offer on his best days, and not worrying anything else.”
Stokes’s fitness has been the subject of much intrigue in the build-up to this summer’s series, with the skipper having to manage a long-standing knee problem.
The 32-year-old did not bowl at all in England’s sole warm-up against Ireland earlier this month, but has been running in in nets at Edgbaston this week and is expected to play some part with the ball if required.
“The last three days have been really good for my confidence,” Stokes said. “I’ve bowled every day so far snd been able to run in with more intensity day by day so I have got myself in a really good position to be able to bowl.”
England announced their team for the series opener on Wednesday, with Stuart Broad getting the nod over Mark Wood for the final place in a seam attack that also includes the fit-again James Anderson and Ollie Robinson.
“When you say Broad, Robinson, Anderson, that is a pretty good three guys to be able to say are in your starting XI,” Stokes said. “Broady’s record against Australia is incredible and it’s very hard to look past someone like that, in the opening game of the series.
“All our bowlers have been told to prepare as if they are playing every game because it’s going to be a very tough ask for any bowler to play all five Tests. It will be very likely that we will have to make some changes as the series goes on, but we will have to see before the next game.”
Broad was left out of the First Test of the last Ashes series in Brisbane but will get an immediate chance to renew his rivalry with David Warner, having dismissed the Australian opener seven times in ten innings during the 2019 series.
“I’d be lying if I said no,” Stokes added, when asked if Broad’s record against Warner was a factor in his selection. “It’s just one of those things, like [Ravi] Ashwin against me. Broady has been an unbelievable performer over many years. What the Ashes brings, it’s so hard to look past someone like that. It’s so hard to look past Jimmy and Robbo as well, he’s been incredible over the last year in all conditions. I’m very happy with the team we’ve ended up picking.”
