Moeen Ali became the fourth English batsman to reach 1000 Test runs this year after he scored 146 runs off 262 balls against India in the fifth Test of the series in Chennai. He put on a 146-run partnership with Joe Root after Cook and Jennings got out quickly. This partnership came at a crucial moment as England were struggling at 21 for 2. He also put on an 86-run partnership with Jonny Bairstow when Root got out on 88.
He looked uncomfortable early on in the innings and was fortunate when KL Rahul dropped him when he was yet to get off the mark. The dropped catch proved costly for India as Moeen Ali went on to score his fourth Test century in this year without much hesitation. He was unlucky to miss out on his second 150+ score of the season when he was caught by Jadeja off a short ball by Umesh Yadav.
Also Read: Who said what: World reacts as England edge ahead after Moeen Ali's century
He has been one of England’s best batsmen this season and has performed really well in the tough conditions of the Indian sub-continent. While the other England batsmen have struggled, he has looked comfortable against the Indian spinners.
His biggest strength has been his aggression against the spinners. He has always looked to take on the spinners and has not allowed them to settle in. The Indian spinners have been forced to change their length with Ali coming down the pitch. In this innings, he applied the same strategy against Ashwin, hitting him for three fours and a six.
Ali has been an invaluable player for the England team this year and has been excellent with both the bat and the ball. He has scored 1034 runs at an average of 47.00 and has also picked up 36 wickets this year.
The all-rounder has had an excellent series against India in which he has been England’s third highest run-scorer and also their second highest wicket-taker. He also had a great home-series against Pakistan earlier this year in which he scored 316 runs and picked up 11 wickets in four matches.
Moeen Ali’s stats in 2016:
Batting
Innings | 28 |
Runs | 1034 |
Average | 47.00 |
50s | 5 |
100s | 4 |
Highest | 155* (vs Sri Lanka) |
Bowling
Overs | 491.0 |
Wickets | 36 |
Average | 49.22 |
Economy | 3.60 |
BBI | 5/57 |
Moeen Ali would look to carry his form into the one-day series against India as England will look to bounce back after the Test series defeat.
