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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin

Moeen Ali’s shock Ashes return reflects lack of back-up for front-foot England

Moeen Ali takes the ball at the Oval in September 2021
Moeen Ali has not played red-ball cricket of any kind since the conclusion of the Test series against India in September 2021. Photograph: Visionhaus/Getty Images

If ever there was a team that was high on its own supply of uber-positive, cupsole trainer vibes, it is the England men’s Test team right now. And if ever there was a selection that embodied this mainlining of the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum way, it is probably Moeen Ali’s return just nine days out from the start of the Ashes.

On the face of it, this makes no sense. Moeen turns 36 on Sunday week, has been nearly two years retired from Test cricket, has not even touched a red ball since, and averages 25 with the bat and 65 with the ball against Australia.

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