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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Moeen Ali "buzzing" to have made Test return and backs England to beat India

Moeen Ali has said he is "buzzing" to be back in England 's Test team after he took two key wickets late on day four in the second Test against India at Lord's.

Ali was making his first Test appearance in six months and he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja in the evening session to give England a slight edge going into the final day.

Speaking to Sky Sports at the end of play, Ali said: "It's going to be a tight game and these 10 or 20 runs could be crucial. But with the new ball in the morning, Jimmy having it, we're in a good position.

Moeen Ali is "buzzing" to be back in England's Test team (Sky Sports)

"It's a fantastic Test match, it's a great one for me personally to come back in to and be part of. Hopefully tomorrow morning we can bowl them out and then chase the runs down.

"I've loved it, it's been really good. Obviously, I haven't done much preparation but I feel like I did OK and played my part so far.

"As soon as I got the call I was buzzing to come back and play. Those kind of things [The Hundred] are always going to be there, Test matches are not always going to be there."

Ali also labelled the pitch "strange" and said England believe they can bowl India out relatively cheaply on day five.

"First session we were fantastic," he added. "We kept it really tight and they came back strong but we contained them well.

Ali took two key late wickets on day four (IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

"We knew if we got one we could go bang, bang, and that's what happened. It has been a fantastic spectacle so far. Stay in there, hang in there and something will happen.

"The pitch is strange - there is something there, like we saw with Pujara's ball, so we feel like we can go bang, bang and do it."

Former India star Dinesh Karthik, meanwhile, said he believes England "have a better chance" of winning the game.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It's been a great game so far. It's gone both ways but I just think England have the upper hand going into tomorrow.

"India has the one spinner, they are reliant on their fast bowlers and there's not too much in it for the fast bowlers, expect with the extra pace like Wood - he bowled some brilliant balls.

"I do feel that you'll get one or two brilliant balls but the way England have batted here, especially Joe Root - if they get Joe Root then India come into the game but if that doesn't happen, England have a better chance."

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