Ashes 2023: England should get Chris Woakes or Mark Wood in for Moeen Ali, says Nasser Hussain

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has advised England to get in Chris Woakes or Mark Wood in the playing XI for Moeen Ali for the second Ashes Test match against Australia. Moeen Ali suffered a finger injury in the opening Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham and he is unlikely to be fit for the Lord’s Test.

Rehan Ahmed was then added as a cover for Ali in England’s squad. Meanwhile, it is well known that Mark Wood can breathe down the neck of the Australian batters with his extra pace whereas Chris Woakes can contribute with both bat and ball.

Wood has scalped 90 wickets in his Test career whereas Woakes has taken 130 wickets in 45 Test matches. Moreover, Woakes has scored 1675 runs in his Test career.

Hussain feels England will take a gamble if they play an injured Moeen Ali at Lord’s.

“I think they need to have a look at their team a bit. Moeen Ali, his finger, that would be a gamble. I know he’s got a week off and he’s had this injury before in 2017. Only Moeen will know whether a week is enough for the skin to heal, or whether that would just rip it up again,” said Hussain while speaking to ICC Review podcast.

Furthermore, Lord’s is not known for providing assistance to the spinners. Ergo, Hussain wants England to play with four seamers and feels Joe Root can contribute a few overs if needed.

“He may not bowl as many overs at Lord’s. Lord’s is not a spinning paradise. Shane Warne never got a five-for there. I might play four seamers and Joe Root as your spinner, but I’ve not seen the pitch,” Hussain added.

Hussain added either Mark Wood or Chris Woakes should replace Moeen Ali in the final XI. Woakes has got a great record at Lord’s as he has scored 306 runs in five Test matches at an average of 61.20 and he has scalped 27 wickets at 11.33.

“Wood would probably have to come in for Moeen and use Joe Root as your spinner, so go down the four seamers route, or Chris Woakes. Chris Woakes has got a fantastic record at Lord’s, and that would increase the batting as well, another all-rounder in there. So either Woakes or Wood for Moeen Ali,” said Hussain.

The second Ashes Test will be played at Lord’s, from June 28 onwards.