Moeen Ali will miss the start of England’s home one-day summer at the Kia Oval on Wednesday with a rib injury, which could hand Joe Denly a chance to prove he can be a World Cup all-rounder.
England got two wins under their belt over the weekend, beating Ireland in Dublin and Pakistan in a curious one-off T20, handing out six new caps — including one in each format to Jofra Archer — but the big boys are back now, with the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes returning.
And as Joe Root said, things really get going on Wednesday with the first of five ODIs against Pakistan.
The focus remains for now on fringe players such as Denly. If England leave Denly out, and pick an extra specialist batsman or bowler, it could suggest a shift in the selectors’ thinking.
Following an impressive IPL, Moeen will not play due to his rib injury, and will only join the squad for the second game in Southampton.
Jason Roy’s troublesome back will keep him out too and with the World Cup just 23 days away, no risks will be taken. It hands James Vince another opportunity. But Moeen’s injury is altogether more significant for England’s World Cup planning.
There is a conviction among England’s management about the scale of Denly’s versatility. There is a belief that, with his steady batting, part-time spin and excellent fielding, he can provide cover for Moeen as one of six bowlers and No7 batsman.
As such, although Friday was his first ODI in a decade, he seems very unlikely to be the man to miss out to Jofra Archer when the final World Cup squad is announced on May 23. In a World Cup squad as small as 15 and with tight rules around replacing injured players, that England see versatility as golden is understandable.
But the notion that Denly’s spin is international class requires plenty of proof. Adding some bowling to his skillset has been impressive but he did not look an international spinner in his single over in Cardiff on Sunday, when his first two balls were long-hops dispatched for six.
His wicket on Friday in Dublin came from Ben Foakes’s opportunism after a leg-side wide.
Moeen and Adil Rashid’s long-term excellence means they are among England’s irreplaceable few and Liam Dawson is a far more obvious like-for- like replacement for Moeen.
All of which will make Denly even more desperate to impress.
