Moeen Ali's selection receives backlash as ex-captain plays down England's latest move to boost Ashes hopes

Not everyone seems to be happy with Moeen Ali's inclusion in the Test side for the Ashes 2023. Though Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum sound confident of the 35-year-old adapting to Bazball's style of play, several former stars look upset with England's latest approach to boost their chances against Australia. One of them is ex-captainMichael Atherton.

Speaking with Sky Sports ahead of the first Test in Edgbaston on June 16, Atherton criticised England's newest tactics saying instead of going for Moeen, the hosts should have picked someone new in Jack Leach's absence, who got ruled out of the Ashes at the last minute.

Having last played a Test match and a First-Class game in 2021, Moeen made a shocking return to the Test side for the upcoming Ashes following the 'one-text message from Stokes' saga.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

ALSO READ:WI vs IND: Mohammed Shami to be rested, Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to replace Pujara in Test squad - Reports

“I wouldn’t have picked Moeen Ali, but I am not Ben Stokes. I am not Bazball. It’s a selection that is amazing if you think about it because Moeen Ali has retired from Test cricket, and hasn’t played Test cricket since September 2021,” Atherton said on Sky Sports.

“You’ve got a batter, who fits the mould of the current side, and somebody who is obviously taken a lot of wickets in Test cricket for England, but even when he was a Test match cricketer before his retirement has a modest record against Australia,” he added.

'I'd have picked a different spinner'

In Leach's absence, Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson were tipped to get picked, but England did the unthinkable and went for already-retired Moeen Ali. Other than them, the right-arm offie Will Jacks also was in line for a Test call-up, but that didn't happen either.

“Had it been me, I would’ve picked a different spinner. I would pick Liam Dawson or Will Jacks or somebody playing first-class cricket currently, which is not to say Moeen Ali won’t do well. We wish him all the best, of course,” Atherton added.

Meanwhile, England named the XI for the first Test against Australia -

Here is the Ashes schedule -

• First Test (Edgbaston) - June 16 - June 20
• Second Test (Lord's) - June 28 - July 2
• Third Test (Clean Slate Headingley) - July 6 - July 10
• Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford) - July 19 - July 23
• Fifth Test (The Kia Oval) - July 27 - July 31

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: