Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook dinner, talking on Take a look at Match Particular: “Once I look again at Mo, he’s most likely probably the most selfless participant to play for England by way of he would do something the staff required.
“He batted from one to eight, I feel he additionally batted at 9 in a single sport. He opened the batting in Abu Dhabi, which allowed Adil Rashid to play, he got here again in and batted at three in these Ashes below Brendon McCullum as properly.
“He would do something the staff required, most likely to the hindrance of his batting – you will bear in mind, when he was picked, he was picked as a batsman who bowled a little bit of part-time spin, as a result of we did not have some other spinners, and we thought he was the most suitable choice as a result of he spun it actually laborious, and we thought 4 seamers and him as an choice was the way in which to go.
“Mo was quite a bit more durable than folks gave him credit score for. As a result of he was such a sublime stroke participant, folks did not actually recognize that in robust moments he was a clutch cricketer as properly.”
Ex-England spinner Phil Tufnell: “Moeen was a silky clean batter, and a damaging batter as properly. That cowl drive, what number of occasions have we seen that? Not likely numerous foot motion, after which simply absolute timing.
“Unbelievable batsman and he appeared a reluctant spinner, did not he? However then as soon as he acquired into it and realised he may actually have an effect on the sport I feel he actually began engaged on it and as Cooky mentioned, he actually spun the ball laborious. He was a type of guys the place you might throw him the ball within the fourth innings and he may do a job – greater than a job – fantastically.”