However, the 32-year-old made his comeback to competitive cricket after a brief break, playing for his county Worcestershire in a four-day match against Northamptonshire. In a strange incident that occurred during the middle of the innings, the off-spinner resorted to bowing medium pace for his team in what his 33rd over. At the time, he had gone for 108 runs without picking any wicket.

While much has been made of it since then, the truth is seamer Josh Tongue failed to take the field after an injury, which may have provoked the captain to ask Ali to fill in for him. Ali did return to his spin bowling later on and ended up picking three wickets in a late surge. But Moeen bowling medium pace does qualify as an interesting sight, one that is unlikely to be witnessed again anytime soon.