Moeen Ali takes break to recharge batteries- Alex Gidman
Collected
|| CF Correspondent ||
Worcestershire Coach Alex Gidman said on Tuesday that Moeen Ali will take a break from competitive cricket in order to recharge his battery.
The off-spinner was dropped from the England squad for the second Ashes Test, which is due to start on Wednesday, amid a dip in form and confidence.
‘’Mo is spending a little time away from the middle recharging his batteries and putting in some quality practice time which he feels he needs, and we completely respect. He has had an intense schedule of international cricket involving the ICC World Cup and the start of the Ashes,’’ said Alex.
"Mo loves playing for Worcestershire and he gives a lift to everyone in the dressing room when he comes back and plays for us. We saw at Trent Bridge (in the Blast) what he gives to us and we look forward to when he returns soon."
Moeen's form with the bat has been particularly dire, with four ducks in his last nine Test innings while it has been a disappointing couple of months for Moeen after he was dropped during the group stages of the World Cup.
Moeen was going to be available immediately for Worcestershire's T20 Blast campaign. And though that will now not be the case, there is a chance he could return to first-class action for the club against Northamptonshire (August 18) in a bid to regain his Test spot.
Even in this rough patch, he is still considered a key member of the international group. His 60 Tests, over the last five years have seen him take 181 wickets with five five-wicket hauls and 2,782 runs, including five centuries. However, the averages of both disciplines - 28.97 with bat, 36.59 with the ball - tells an accurate story of a spin-bowling allrounder who has struggled to find consistency.
