The beauty of setting up a dismissal - How Aaron got Ali's wicket

Moeen Ali’s dismissal was beautifully set up by Varun Aaron

Moeen Ali b Varun Aaron 13 (27)

Moeen Ali was bowled by Varun Aaron – that much will be clear to fans years down the line. But what they’ll fail to realise from that line is how beautifully the dismissal was set up.

The game of statistics that cricket is, unfortunately, it’s often the case that numbers don’t always reflect the true nature of the game and there are many unquantifiable incidents missed by the scorecard. Watching the drama unfold before your eyes however, brings out the real thrill of watching cricket.

The fact that Ali is susceptible to short-pitched bowling has been evident throughout the series. Before this Test, 3 out of his last 4 dismissals in the series had come due to his indecision in playing the short ball.

When he came on to bat in the England’s first innings on Friday, Bhuvneshwar Kumar tried the short stuff, but his pace made things easier for Ali who hit him for two boundaries in the second over he faced from Meerut’s swing bowler.

Ashwin brought some indecision in his mind, even getting an edge which fell just short of the fielder.

The only other bowler he faced was Varun Aaron, with two leg side bouncers easily avoided in the first 25 balls he faced.

Then in the 53rd over of the innings, Aaron, easily the fastest Indian bowler on the tour, bowled a brute of a delivery which Ali fended off awkwardly, running two as the ball landed in no-man’s land.

Then came the knockout punch. A length delivery outside off-stump, fast, in genuine terms, and swinging in. Aaron had just turned on the Waqar Younis mode.

Ali brought out his left leg, but then saw the ball snaking in at the last moment, and pulled it back. The indecision created with the last delivery led to his bat coming down too late. Too late to see his off-stump pegged back. Arms in the air, Aaron let out a war cry. It was beautiful to watch!

Watch the dismissal here.