England star Moeen Ali starting 50th Test with broken body but fighting-fit mind
In five Ashes Tests he averaged just 19 with the bat and a stratospheric 115 with the ball but is refocused now
MOEEN ALI goes into his 50th Test match this week with his body riddled with pain — and his mind restored to full confidence.
England’s off-spinning all-rounder has a damaged finger and sore shoulder.
That is nothing compared to the torture he suffered during five Ashes Tests when he averaged just 19 with the bat and a stratospheric 115 with the ball against Australia.
But, after success in white-ball cricket over the past two months, Moeen is ready for the two-Test series against New Zealand — starting with a day-night pink-ball match on Thursday.
Moeen, 30, said: “The Ashes was quite tough for me so the one-dayers came at a good time.
“You lose confidence during such a bad tour, not just as an individual but as a team.
“I’m sure quite a few of the guys want to put that right and confidence is sky-high now.
“We play so much cricket now that you have to get back on that horse, try your best and forget about the bad days if you can.
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“The one-dayers were good because new players came in and freshened things up.
“We played very good cricket and those games definitely helped my bowling.”
Apart from two weeks at home last month, Moeen has been on tour since October. And it is beginning to take a physical toll.
His cut spinning finger, which affected him during The Ashes, returned after bowling 44 overs in two days against a New Zealand XI. And Moeen’s throwing is restricted by a painful shoulder — a different injury from the side strain he suffered in Australia.
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He has missed just one Test since his debut in 2014 and can scarcely believe he has reached the half-century.
Moeen added: “When I got to 25, 50 still seemed a long way off. I’ve been fortunate to be part of a great set-up.”
Ben Stokes will have various fitness tests this week to discover if he can overcome a back problem and bowl in the First Test.
Moeen added: “I hope Ben can bowl because the balance of the team is pretty much sorted when he’s in. We have a much stronger side when he’s playing.”