'This Injury is a Real Concern': Nasser Hussain Sounds Warning Bell over Moeen Ali's Condition
Moeen injured his finger in the 1st Ashes Test [AP Photos]
In a recent column for the Daily Mail, former England captain Nasser Hussain shed light on Moeen Ali's challenge upon his return to Test cricket.
Nasser Hussain stresses concern over Moeen Ali's condition
Having shouldered the gruelling task of bowling an astonishing 33 overs during Australia's first innings, the all-rounder found himself burdened by a significant workload, a consequence of his recent participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
Stepping in for Jack Leach, Moeen conceded 147 runs and picked up a couple of crucial wickets. However, the significant workload placed immense strain on the 36-year-old spinner's index finger, leaving it in a suboptimal condition.
In fact, the situation deteriorated to such an extent that he had to resort to applying a drying agent on his finger to mitigate the discomfort, for which he was later fined by the ICC.
Hussain said that initially he thought that the crux of Moeen's challenge would revolve around mental fortitude, however, it was the physical demands that proved to be the most formidable obstacle during his return.
The former England captain stated that the veteran all-rounder was accustomed to a far more moderate volume of deliveries. He also noted that the spinner had bowled more overs during the first innings of this Test match than he had throughout the entire duration of his IPL 2023 campaign
"I thought the challenge for Moeen Ali in this match would be a mental one. He would have asked himself whether he really needed all this, but actually, it has been the physical challenge that has proved the barrier on his return. Moeen is simply not used to bowling such a volume of deliveries. Remember, he bowled more overs in the first innings here than he bowled in the Indian Premier League," said Hussain.
Hussain further highlighted the ordeal Ali endured, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining a consistent bowling performance when beset by severe pain. In desperate circumstances, Ali resorted to improvising his grip to generate spin, leveraging alternative parts of his finger. The renowned cricket analyst underscored the gravity of Ali's injury, cautioning that it poses a genuine concern.
"It's difficult to bowl when you are in real pain and the only other option is to try to spin the ball off another part of the finger. Make no mistake, this injury is a real concern and a by-product of going from the demands of bowling four overs in white-ball cricket to a Test match in which 33 are required in the first innings alone,” added the erstwhile cricketer.
According to Hussain, the management of this injury becomes imperative, especially considering the looming expectations that will be placed on England's premier spinner if they manage to secure a commanding lead of 200 runs or more.
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