Moeen Ali will take an eight point lead in England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association Most Valuable Player Test rankings into the fourth Test against South Africa at the Kia Oval.
The Worcestershire all-rounder followed up his 10 wicket match haul in the win at Lord’s with a match haul of 20 PCA MVP points in the defeat at Trent Bridge.
Moeen earned 12 points for taking 4-78 in South Africa’s second innings and added five more for his 27, which comprised 20 per cent of England’s second innings total, with the bat.
Ali now has 76 rankings points after two Tests with Joe Root, England’s new Test captain, in second place with 68.
Root earned 40 points for his 190 in the first innings at Lord’s and added 20 more batting points for his first innings 78 – 38 per cent of England’s runs – in the first innings at Trent Bridge.
Root is top of England’s overall PCA MVP with 195 points in all formats this summer with Ali 74 points behind him in second place.
Ben Stokes (119) and England’s white ball captain Eoin Morgan (102) have also reached the 100 points milestone for the season.
The PCA MVP Rankings system identifies the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season.
The formula takes into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy and strike-rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken.
Jimmy Anderson’s liking for Trent Bridge has helped the swing bowler into third place in England’s Test PCA MVP.
Anderson took five for 72 in South Africa’s first innings which was his seventh five wicket haul in Trent Bridge Tests and his eighth in first-class cricket at the ground.
Anderson earned 20 bowling points for his efforts and added 10 more in the second innings to take him to 47 for the season.
