The first Test of Ashes 2023 is witnessing intense action, with the Australian cricket team gaining momentum by swiftly dismissing England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, in the second innings. Amidst Australia’s batting, a surprising incident occurred as Moeen Ali was seen applying a drying agent on his bowling hand. Consequently, Moeen Ali was fined by the ICC for breaching the code of conduct. He accepted the charges without the need for a hearing.
With England holding a 35-run lead, they will be aiming for a score exceeding 270, fully aware of the strength of Australia’s batting lineup. A tactical move that might catch the Australians off guard could be the promotion of wicket-keeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow to the number five position.
On the other hand, the Australian team must consistently pick wickets as the English side boasts a resilient and lengthy batting order. Even Stuart Broad, known for his bowling prowess, has the ability to produce quick-fire cameos that can alter the course of the match.
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Ricky Ponting, in an interaction with the ICC, expressed his surprise at Moeen Ali’s act of applying a drying agent on his bowling hand. Ponting revealed that he, like Moeen, was unaware of the rule and mistook it for the perspiration spray used by some batsmen to prevent excessive sweating in their hands. He believed that Moeen Ali also lacked comprehension of the situation.
“I happened to be on air at the time, and I, like Moeen, didn’t know that rule. I thought it was that perspiration spray that some of the batsmen will put under their gloves to stop their hands from sweating as much. I didn’t know what was going on, and obviously, Moeen Ali didn’t understand either, or he wouldn’t have done it,” explained Ricky Ponting.
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Earlier in the BGT 2023, the astute left-arm off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja received a fine for applying cream on his finger. Ponting emphasized that it was time to move on from the incident, with the focus shifting to the game. He expressed confidence that the pitch would offer significant assistance to spinners in the final two days. However, there remains uncertainty regarding Moeen Ali’s participation in the second innings.
“But it’s become pretty clear now why he was doing it, and he’s put his hand up and accepted that and copped the fine. With no malice intended, I just think he made a mistake. He’s owned up to it, and it’s time to move on,” asserted Ricky Ponting.
Ponting further highlighted that Moeen Ali’s bowling performance seemed to have declined in the first innings, possibly due to the discomfort he experienced. Considering the nature of the wicket, which is expected to offer significant turn in the last two days, Ponting believes that England’s chances will be compromised if they lack a spinner.