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IND vs ENG: Moeen, Virat and the delivery

Dismissing Virat Kohli needs something special. It doesn’t happen every day. You study for your toughest exam; you would have gone through all the nook and corner of the book but end up failing because of various reasons.
Sometimes, it’s because the question is just too tough, sometimes, it’s you, sometimes, it’s your luck. Sometimes, you end up preparing for the wrong paper. Sometimes, the wrong kind of approach lets you down, and the list goes on. These mistakes happen. It’s not like everyone can pass the Test. It’s tough and understandable when you fail. But when it’s your day, IT IS YOUR DAY.

Moeen Ali had one of those moments. He came into this match as the replacement of Bess. The selectors and the coaches thought that Dom Bess needed time out of the team to work on the consistency. Thus, Ali didn’t come in because he was too good. He came in because the other one was failing. Now, that’s a different kind of challenge.


Moeen Ali is one of the book worms you would see in this world. Even he looks like one. Put your judging hat and watch Ali for a while. I’m not even being over-dramatic here.


For Ali, though, he isn’t the usual all-rounder. The usual all-rounder is always present, either with bat or ball. They are always going to be there in a way, but Ali had it different. In recent times, he had rarely shown consistency or had performances that could get him into the book of records. In other times, he has been the team’s best batter and team’s best bowler but not both at the same time. He enjoys being the second spinner slot because it takes the pressure off him. He wants to be known for his batting and the bowling is more of a second love for him.

But again, his batting form hasn’t been that good to get into the team. He wasn’t doing well with the ball too. With Stokes back into the team, the team preferred a full-time spinner. Bess, who has been in the team for a while now, has a bowling average and batting average close to his senior man and when Leech can produce big innings while batting as the night watchman, the position of Ali is always debatable. Again, when Ali is at his best, he is better than the other two in the team but again, it is only a series of events rather than the event itself.

For years now, Ali has been that bowler who has done well at home compared to away conditions. His numbers are jaw-droppingly different in away conditions but he has done well when he was that second spinner to Leach. Ali also had to wait for his chance in the red-ball cricket. It’s been a while since he had played one. This pandemic had a lot to do with that too. He couldn’t play against Sri Lanka because of the same where he certainly would have enjoyed a good time.

Now, when he was picked up ahead of Bess, a lot was on focus. He wasn’t just here as the batter who can bowl but as the second spinner who will be taking the lead alongside Leach. One thing with Ali is sure though. He has always been aggressive and has a good strike-rate with the ball. In recent times, he does toss it up more often. There is some flight, slow, full and attack.

It was one of those days for Ali where he knew all the answers in the toughest exam. He studied so hard and waited for the day that it went all well for him. He tossed it up a bit wide of off-stump. The ball beautifully flies to reach the spot close to Virat Kohli, tempting him to go for a drive. Usually, Kohli gets that done with ease but this time, it was Ali’s day. A classic off-break. Thanks to that bookworm who came out when it was needed. He was able to break through the defence of Kohli.

He found a yawning gap between the bat and the pad. It was more like doing a live CG to make that delivery hit the stumps. Even Kohli thought the same. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was just too good to be true, to the batter who is one of the best in the world if not the best.

Now, as far as Ali is concerned, nobody knows how long it will last. He could take a few more wickets and lead the team from the front or he would end up giving away more runs than usual and return empty-handed in the 2nd innings. He still could go on and would make crazy 40-ball 60 when the team was looking for a long stay.

This could be one of those Ali’s best series of events or it could just go as one of those semesters where you knew all the answers for one exam but end up failing in others. We have seen this man before and trust and faith are what we can have once again.

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