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Cricket

'Koi sense hai iss baat ka' - Fans react as Moeen Ali reveals how Ben Stokes approached him for Ashes 2023

Here's how fans reacted after Moeen Ali revealed how Ben Stokes convinced him to play in the upcoming Ashes 2023.

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Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes (Source - Twitter)

Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes (Source - Twitter)

The opening two Test matches of England's Ashes series against Australia, which begin on June 16 at Edgbaston, will feature all-around superstar Moeen Ali. Moeen is in place of Jack Leach, who withdrew from the first team due to a low back stress fracture and was later declared ineligible for the full five-match Ashes series.

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The 35-year-old all-rounder made his Test cricket retirement announcement in 2021. He later changed his mind and opted to resume playing after chatting with England Test captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key. Ali recently revealed how Stokes approached him for the upcoming Ashes series.

"Stokesy messaged me with a question mark: 'Ashes?' I hadn't heard the news on Leachy at the time so I just said 'LOL', thinking he's taking the mick. Then the news came through and I had a chat with him. That was it. I spoke to Stokesy about how he talks to batters and he said, 'Look, it would be perfect for the way you play'. There are no question marks over any shots you play which gives me license to play a few more rash shots, I guess." Ali was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

I have never been able to hold an end up: Moeen Ali

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Moeen Ali concurred that Jack Leach may have more control over his off-spin than he does. The all-rounder, however, makes it very obvious that Stokes and McCullum are fully aware of his strengths and how to use them.

"I know I go for runs but Stokesy also knows there are some wicket-taking deliveries in between. I have never been able to hold an end up. When I have, it's when I've been taking wickets. That's the only time I have been able to build any kind of pressure. Ben and Baz know that."

England squad for the first two Ashes Tests: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali

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Ashes 2023 Schedule:

First Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham June 16-20

Second Test, Lord’s, London June 28-July 2

Third Test, Headingley, Leeds July 6-10

Fourth Test, Old Trafford, Manchester July 19-23

Fifth Test, The Oval, London, July 27-31

Here's how fans reacted:

Ashes 2023 Australia England Ben Stokes Moeen Ali Twitter Reactions