Lord's Test: 'Happy' Moeen Ali brings much-needed balance for England

Moeen Ali was smashing the ball all around the corners for the Birmingham Phoenix when a desperate England recalled him to the Test side for the Lord’s Test against India. 

He was not included in the primary squad but having been enforced to play with just four bowlers in the first Test, they were eager to bring one all-rounder to balance the playing XI. The much-sought balance was thrown into disarray as soon as Ben Stokes opted out of the series and they needed someone to bring value with both bat and ball.

He made a significant difference to the side as he stitched a valuable partnership with Joe Root and then followed it up with two big wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja on the fourth day to put England in a commanding position to win the Lord’s test.

Moeen last played Test cricket in March on the tour of India before he headed back home as part of much controversial ‘rotation policy.’ His Test appearance in England goes far back in the 2010 Ashes series where he was proven inefficient with the ball and inadequate with the bat.

Having been in and out of the Test side, and now being recalled to the side for the series, Moeen said that his focus was only on enjoying the game and that he was eager to be part of the series against India. He expressed his contentment with the state of his career and not taking things too seriously.

"I've really enjoyed myself. That was my aim really, it wasn't the runs or the wickets so much - although they help - it was more about enjoying myself and trying to enjoy the challenge as much as I could. I just wanted to be part of this series and do well, take wickets and a few runs, hopefully get some more runs, I feel all right with the bat so I'm just enjoying my cricket. I'm happy with myself, I'm happy with the way I'm playing. I'm not taking it too seriously anymore; I'm going to enjoy it. I know there will be bad days, plenty of bad days in a series and I know there will be good days,” Moeen said in the press conference after the end of the fourth day’s play at Lord’s

India were in a precarious situation late on the fourth day when the Indian batsmen complained of the bad light and the on-field umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth decided to end the day early. Rishabh Pant was seen having an animate discussion with England skipper Root while walking off the ground that suggested that the hosts were not happy with an early close of play. 

However, Moeen refuted any such discussion in the England camp and said that they were “pretty pleased” to come off considering they had to bowl to Pant, who could have been “dangerous” with some 15-20 runs which he said could prove to be crucial on the final day.

"We were pretty pleased to come off in the end as well. Rishabh Pant, a 15 or 20-run over could have been dangerous going into tomorrow. These kinds of things happen, it doesn't worth me too much, personally, it's more of a tactical thing and most teams have the same tactics. There were two parties, one wanted to stay out there, one wasn't so sure. 

"It's going to be a tight game and these 10, 15 or 20 runs could be crucial. We know what Pant can do, he can be so dangerous. But with the new ball in the morning, Jimmy having it, we're in a good position. Anything over 220-230 is going to be quite difficult, but not impossible. We’re all going to have to play well but, when it goes above 230-240, it gets a bit harder," Moeen told Sky Sports.

Moeen’s concerns of “dangerous” Pant must have been calmed down by Ollie Robinson, who dismissed the left-hander inside the first hour on the final day. India. 

England would not be comfortable chasing anything over 200 and hence the wickets of Rahane, Pant and Jadeja would prove to be match-turning moments and Moeen was the chief tormentor for India for two of those moments.