Graeme Swann urges Moeen Ali to believe in himself as a Test-class Spinner
Getty
Former England spinner Graeme Swann has advised Moeen Ali to cast aside any self-doubt and take charge of England's spin campaign against an "out-of-sorts" Sri Lanka next month. Ali has recently expressed a wish to continue batting higher up the order and playing the supporting spinner's role.
Moeen has been ever-present in Englandâs ODI side this year but was dropped from the Test side during the New Zealand tour in March before returning for the fourth Test against India. His comeback was a special occasion for him as he produced an outstanding performance by picking up 9 wickets for 134 runs in Southampton.Â
Swann was speaking at the launch of the Cricket World Cup Participation Plan, in which ECB and ICC hope to use the tournament to inspire a million children to play the game. In the programme, he questioned the mindset of spinners Moeen and Adil Rashid, the players whom he believes are the key for England succeeding against Sri Lanka.
"I think it is a big series because after being 4-1 [in the Test series against India] I think it's very easy to rest on your laurels. That will mean nothing if they don't go well against - let's face it - a massively out-of-sorts Sri Lanka team,â said Swann.
Speaking about Sri Lankaâs recent form, Swann said, "They've had a stinker of a time at the Asia Cup and this is a very good time to play them. I don't think we've got the resources to go out there and really challenge them if we don't believe we have, because I don't believe the spinners are in the right mindset."
Moeen was brought back into the England Test side as an additional spinner to Rashid and, in the second innings at the Rose Bowl, was promoted up the batting order to No.3 ahead of Joe Root. He has expressed a wish to continue batting higher up the order and playing the supporting spinner's role. However, Swann is not convinced that Moeen is best suited to either role.Â
"Mo is still in that [mindset of] 'I'm No.2 spinner I want to bat No.3'. That is not the way to go. If Mo turns up at the airport and says, 'I'm going to go to Sri Lanka and be Man of the Series, I'm going to take loads of wickets and I'll bat No.6 where the team needs me, not at No.3 where I'm not suited' then I think England will win. But I think it's all about getting the best out of the spin bowlers who, let's face it, when you go to the subcontinent are the major players.
"Yes, the Test series is a different form and it's in a different country but it seems with Mo that he's so fragile that he needs confidence-boosting all the time. And I implore him to just come on, grab it with both hands. You're a really, really good bowler and stop worrying about being known as the No.2 spinner. It doesn't make any difference, the ball doesn't change shape because you're the No.1 or 2
Furthermore, Swann believes England are right on track in their preparations seven months out from a home World Cup.
"I think from a one-day point of view, with the World Cup coming here next year, we couldn't be in a better place at the minute because the one-day series against India proved to us that we could beat India in England and come back from a pretty slow start to the series as well", said Swann. Swann went on to praise the current English Skipper, Eoin Morgan and England's chances in the upcoming World Cup, "And Eoin Morgan is undoubtedly the best man for the job as skipper. He has that team really believing they can do anything from any situation and England are favourites."
England tour of Sri Lanka will start on October 5th to November 27th and on the tour, the team will play 5 ODIs, 3 Tests and 1 T20 match against Sri Lanka.
Cricket FootBall Kabaddi
Basketball Hockey
SportsCafe
