Moeen backs two spinners on his home turf Edgbaston

The all-rounder feels a dry pitch in Birmingham will help spinners as India’s final Test progresses and Ashwin and Jadeja could play an important role in tandem

During each of India’s four Tests in England last year, off-spinner R Ashwin’s omission from the playing eleven was a perpetual talking point. The 35-year-old has proved his mettle in overseas conditions in recent years, most notably on the 2020-21 tour of Australia when he took 12 wickets in three Tests, but India preferred left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja with four pacers considering his superior all-round skills. The combination worked as India took a 2-1 series lead before the fifth Test was postponed due to Covid cases in the Indian camp.

Moeen Ali (ANI)

As India get ready for the Edgbaston Test from Friday, it is difficult to see the team management move away from that tried and tested bowling combination though it could mean excluding a bowler with 442 Test wickets. England spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali, though, feels India should include Ashwin and Jadeja.

“Ashwin and Jadeja are brilliant all-rounders. I would personally play them both in this Test because the conditions have been extremely dry at Edgbaston for the past 4-5 weeks. I would go with three seamers and two spinners. The pitch will definitely offer turn, although not for the first day or two,” Moeen, who hails from Birmingham, said during a media interaction organised by Sony on Tuesday.

India will have their task cut out against a home team bolstered by the 3-0 drubbing of world Test champions New Zealand. After chasing down 296 in just 54.2 overs on the final day of the third Test on Monday, England became the first team to complete 250-plus chases in three successive Tests. Their batting approach was akin to their aggression in white-ball cricket, a transformation initiated by new coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes since taking charge of the Test team last month.

Moeen expects the England batters to stick to this approach, though the Indian bowling attack may pose a bigger challenge.

“The tables have turned big time now. If you asked me even four-five weeks ago, I would have said India will win. But the way England have changed their mindset and the positive cricket they are playing, I would say they are favourites. England have just played three good Tests while India are a bit undercooked. The England batters can keep it going. I don’t think it will be as extreme, especially against a quality Indian bowling attack. But England will be a lot more attacking than they have been previously.”

England’s fresh outlook has had a big part in the 33-year-old, who had announced his Test retirement after the home series against India last year, making himself available for Test selection again.

“As soon as Brendon got the job, he asked me if I want to play again. The mindset has changed with McCullum and Stokes taking over and their brand of cricket is the way I like to play. It’s a bit more positive and attacking. That’s one of the big reasons why I am available for Tests again. At the time I retired, I was tired of the same old mindset. We were not playing well as a team and things seemed disorganised.”