Friday, September 21st, 2018

Moeen Named In England Test Squad For Sri Lanka

Moeen Named In England Test Squad For Sri Lanka

Moeen Ali has been named in England’s squad for the three match series in Sri Lanka starting in November.

The Worcestershire all-rounder regained his place in the Test side for the final two matches of the summer against India.

Moeen turned in a man of the match performance at the Ageas Bowl with nine wickets and a vital 40 in the first innings to help rescue England.

He then scored a patient half century after being promoted to number three at the Kia Oval.

The 31-year-old has to date played 52 Tests, scoring 2614 runs at 32.27 and taking 145 wickets at 39.05.

He returned from England’s 4-1 triumph over India to play a starring role alongside Ben Cox and Pat Brown in Rapids Vitality Blast finals day triumph at Edgbaston.

Surrey opening batsman Rory Burns, Kent batsman Joe Denly and Warwickshire seamer Olly Stone are called-up to the squad for the first time.

Burns, who has captained Surrey to the Specsavers County Championship Division One title this summer, has been the leading run scorer in the top flight this season scoring 1,319 championship runs at an average of over 69.

The 32-year-old Denly returns to the England set-up for the first time since 2010 when he earned nine ODI caps and played five IT20s.

The experienced right-hand batsman is comfortable batting at the top of the order and has played a pivotal role in Kent’s successful season, which saw them secure promotion to the top-flight of the County Championship this week.

He is also a useful leg-spin bowler and will give options to England’s attack in the spin friendly conditions of Sri Lanka.

Stone, who was named in England’s ODI squad for the first time earlier this week, has been in excellent form for Warwickshire at the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two. The 24-year-old pace bowler has taken 37 wickets at just 12 apiece.

Somerset left-arm spinner Jack Leach returns to the squad for the first time since he made his debut in New Zealand in March and is one of three specialist spinners named alongside Moeen Ali and Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

England Test squad

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)

Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) wicketkeeper

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Rory Burns (Surrey)

Jos Buttler (Lancashire)

Sam Curran (Surrey)

Joe Denly (Kent)

Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)

Jack Leach (Somerset)

Ollie Pope (Surrey)

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)

Ben Stokes (Durham)

Olly Stone (Warwickshire)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England Test tour of Sri Lanka schedule:

Two-day warm-up match, SLC Board President’s XI v England, 30-31 October 2018, NCC, Colombo

Two-day warm-up match, SLC Board President’s XI v England, 1-2 November 2018, CCC, Colombo

1st Test, Sri Lanka v England, 6-10 November 2018, Galle International Stadium, Galle

2nd Test, Sri Lanka v England, 14-18 November 2018, PKICS, Kandy

3rd Test, Sri Lanka v England, 23-27 November 2018, SSC, Colombo