England will press Moeen Ali into service for Thursday’s second Ashes Test at Lord’s, with the captain Alastair Cook hoping the all-rounder can get through the match with a minor side strain after his spin-bowling understudy Adil Rashid declared himself unfit to play.
The uncapped Rashid was told on Tuesday evening that he would make his Test debut this week, with Moeen having reported discomfort in his side since the 169-run win in Cardiff last week. But it is understood the Yorkshireman has subsequently complained of an abrasion to his spinning finger and he did not bowl in training on Wednesday.
That news has left the England management frustrated and they are left hoping that Moeen, who batted and bowled in their final practice session, can get through the Test match unscathed following a late fitness test in the morning. The fast bowler Steven Finn is their only other option in the squad should a late change be required.
“Moeen is pretty good. We will make the final call [before the Test],” said Cook at the pre-match press conference. “It was precautionary. He felt his side a little bit in the last game and with his previous history our medical team are wrapping people up in cotton wool.”
Moeen’s niggle is understood to be in a different area to the injury picked at the World Cup that saw him miss the first Test against West Indies in April but there are fears he could aggravate the problem further. After seeing the Worcestershire all-rounder play a key part in the first Test, scoring 77 with the bat in the first innings and five wickets in the match, Cook knows his importance to the make-up of the attack.
“I don’t think it’s the same injury,” said Cook, whose side used Arjun Tendulkar, the 15-year-old son of Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, as a net bowler. “You have to be a bit careful with back-to-back Tests but unless he gets a reaction overnight we expect him to be in our team. He had a really good game at Cardiff, particularly the way he batted in our first innings and he took crucial wickets at crucial times. He’s an important part of that success and hopefully he can do the same here.”
Asked about sitting 1-0 up after Australia were tipped as favourites prior to the series, Cook replied: “It’s always nice to be the underdog. Australia probably still are favourites – they only have to retain the Ashes, I suppose. But as I said before the series, it is not played on paper or on potential, it’s what people deliver out there. The next challenge starts at Lord’s.
“It was a good start but as I said to the lads just now, it is all about looking forward. We can’t sit back and protect anything. We have to get on the front foot as we did in that first Test match.”
Australia, who have lost their two previous Lord’s Tests, see their issues stack up greater than England’s going into the second Test, with their wicketkeeper Brad Haddin having stepped down for his understudy Peter Nevill due to family reasons and Shane Watson set to be replaced by his fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after disappointing in Cardiff. The fast bowler Mitchell Starc is expected to feature despite needing a pain-killing injection to mask the discomfort of bones spurs in his right ankle in the first Test.
On Haddin, Cook said: “Our thoughts are with him. I don’t know the details but when you hear ‘personal reasons’ you hope he and his family are well. The England side send their best and we hope everything is OK.”
The Australian captain, Michael Clarke, who believes Haddin will return to play a part later in the series, played dumb when asked about Watson’s reported exclusion but a huge hint was given when his side trained on Tuesday afternoon, with Adam Voges occupying the all-rounder’s usual first slip position.
Asked whether he sensed events were conspiring against his team on this tour, Clarke replied: “I get a sense that we need to turn things around right now in this Test match. Through my experience that comes with attitude. If you have got the right attitude you will turn things around.
“Whether it be your own personal form, holding on to that tough catch, getting that momentum, playing and missing, the opposition dropping a catch – if you keep that confidence and belief individually and as a team you will find a way to turn it round. That’s what good teams do.
“I watched Roger Federer play Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final the other day and in the first set I was certain Roger was going to win, second set I wasn’t so certain,” he added. “That’s sport right there, the highs and lows. You have to be able cop a few smacks in the mouth, get up and go again. Cardiff was round one and we got beaten but I look forward to round two.”
