When Moeen Ali left the Indian tour England’s decision was part of a circulation policy, says Chris Silverwood, who apologizes for any confusion regarding the roundabout; The head coach says test cricket is a priority and relaxation players will now encourage bidding to get the ashes back.
Last updated: 17/02/21 2:22 pm
Moeen Ali flies home to England and misses the final two trials against India in Ahmedabad
England decided to leave Moeen Ali on the test tour around India as part of their rotation policy, he pressed head coach Chris Silverwood, as he apologized for handling the departure of the universe,
England skipper Joe Root had said after losing to India in the second Test in Chennai – Moeen’s first five-day game since August 2019 – that the 33-year-old had opted to go home and to see his family.
However, Silverwood dismissed any upheaval at a meaningful media conference by explaining that Moeen – who suffered a bout of coronavirus in Sri Lanka earlier this winter – was always planned.
Moeen gave eight wickets and got a quick 43-run in the second Test, his first red ball game for England since 2019 (Pic credit – BCCI)
England are managing the workload of their multi-format players in a year that includes the T20 World Cup and the Ashes series, with Moeen now missing India’s last two trials in the Ahmedabad.
Silverwood said: “We’re sorry if the idea that we gave that Moeen is being treated differently to others has gone. No, I can promise you that.
“The decision to go home was up to us, as were Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood. [who have also been rested for parts of the India series]. We are happy to hold that decision.
“It was a great situation with Moeen – he had spent so much time alone. After breaking back into the team, he was questioned. [about staying] but in the end we thought it was the right decision for him to go.
Moeen returns to India for the five-match T20I series in March (Pic credit – BCCI)
“We visited the base with Mo. [on Tuesday night], as did Joe [captain Joe Root], and it is well.
“Mo understands that his best interests are at the heart of him and we try to look after him, just as we do with the other players. We need to prioritize that and we are doing the best we can.
“It’s a strange thing right now and we have to get on with it. It’s hard to be locked in a bubble for a long time, especially for people who have families at home.
“We have to be very respectful that people need time out of this bubble to see their families and, similarly, that families need to see the players as well.
Jos Buttler is another senior from England who is resting for part of the India Test series (Pic credit – BCCI)
“People need time to refresh their minds, to be here, they are 100 percent here and in a good place to achieve.”
Moeen will be part of England’s full-strength T20 squad to lead India in five games in March but Silverwood dismissed the notion that the shortest form has prioritized test cricket, urging players rest now spur their bid to get the Ashes back in Australia next winter.
However, he said giving the T20 side a “dry run” in India ahead of the T20 World Cup in the same country later a year went into the planning.
The 45-year-old said: “I can assure you that we do not prioritize anything over test cricket.
“Test cricket is very important to me. It’s something that Joe and I are very passionate about and we prioritize Tests and T20 equally.
Chris Silverwood says Joe Root (pictured) is not hard to say he misses key players for test matches (Pic credit – BCCI)
“We know we have a great opportunity for some dry running with the T20 World Cup in India – it gives us a great opportunity to learn as a group and for the players to experience situations.
“But we have to respect that to get people to the T20 World Cup and the Ashes in a new format and above all, we have to turn it around.
“I don’t think there is any frustration [for Root]. Joe understands as well as I do that he is sorry.
“Chalk and cheese is the time we have here for a test series compared to the T20 series so to play four Tests here in this bubble we have to turn people around.
“We want to ensure we have an appropriate, healthy group of players who are able to perform in these conditions in the ashes.
James Anderson rested for second Test in Chennai (Pic credit – BCCI)
“We’re trying to build a huge group of players. Design for the Ashes started a long time ago and we continue to build so that anyone can play at a specific time. Moeen is a big part of that.
“The fixtures are put in front and we are just getting on with it and designing things to achieve and make these fixtures in a way that we compete and hopefully. to win.
“To do that we still need to use the circulatory system and get people in and out of the bubble so that things are free and we can start to move people as usual and travel with smaller squadrons. “
England 17-man squad for third test against India: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes , Mark Wood.
Follow a text report of the third Test during the day between India and England in Ahmedabad on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app from 8.30am on Wednesday, February 24th.