England are hoping to prove that “old is gold” after banking on a vintage attack for their must-win Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford.
With record wicket-taker James Anderson returning to the XI less than two weeks before his 41st birthday, the home side are set to roll out the oldest pace attack in Ashes cricket since the Australian class of 1928.
That was the last time either side fielded four seamers aged 33 or above, a bar England will clear with ease when local favourite Anderson joins 37-year-old Stuart Broad, 34-year-old Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, the baby of the group at 33.
Their last remaining twentysomething, Ollie Robinson, made way for Anderson after struggling with back spasms during last week’s win at Headingley, and England’s collection of veterans even extends to 36-year-old spinner Moeen Ali.
“I was always told that old was gold,” said the all-rounder, who will continue to bat at number three in Manchester.
“Somebody said it was the oldest attack since 1920-something. As somebody who’s quite old, I think it’s a great thing to be part of.
“But it’s not just old, it’s Jimmy, it’s Broady, Woakesy, Woody – they’re really good bowlers, good guys and hopefully they can get some wickets.
“You always know what you’re going to get, especially from those four seamers. Myself…you never know what you’re going to get, but with those guys you definitely know how good they are.”
Just a few short weeks ago Moeen was happily enjoying his red-ball retirement, only deciding to return to the fray after Jack Leach’s injury left England without an experienced spinner.
Now, as well as performing an important job with the ball, he finds himself pulling double duty in the pivotal number three position that was vacated when Ollie Pope dislocated his shoulder at Lord’s.
Harry Brook briefly inherited the mantle in the third Test but moved back down to his preferred position at five for the fourth innings and produced a knock of 75.
Moeen had initially volunteered to go up the order on a one-off basis but has been persuaded to remain in place to allow Brook to settle in the middle order.
That is entirely in keeping with an international career that has been built around selflessness and flexibility, occupying every spot from one to nine over the course of 66 Test caps as well as performing a variety of roles in the white-ball set-up.
“I just thought it was best for the team and the other guys more than myself,” he admitted.
“That’s the most important thing. I think Brooky is a great player and will be a great player, I just personally feel five is great for him. The impact he can have there is much more than he probably can at three at the moment. I just feel right now, for the team, it’s probably best I go three. I feel fine about it.”
Moeen has five Test centuries to his name but the last of those came in December 2016 and, although he is deliberately cautious about his latest positional change, he is also open to the idea of concluding his career with a dream finish.
“You’ve got to be a bit realistic. If it happens it would be amazing and I would absolutely love that, but I don’t ever look too far ahead,” he said.
“We’ll see, if I’m playing well and I get in I have made Test hundreds before and it’s not like I can’t do it. It’s just when you’ve been out of Test cricket a while…even before the series, I wasn’t actually that worried about my bowling. It was more the batting.
“But things happen for a reason. I genuinely believe that and I’ve always believed it. That’s why when the call came (to come out of retirement) I thought it’s an opportunity I can’t turn down.
“I’m a big one on faith and destiny and all that. It would be amazing to win an Ashes and finish Test cricket properly.”
Moeen’s comeback has already yielded one significant milestone – reaching 200 Test wickets at Headingley – and he now stands just 23 away from 3,000 runs.
Only 15 players have ever achieved both landmarks, including three Englishmen in Sir Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Broad.
Moeen joked: “I think that means more to my dad!
“It would mean a lot to me as well, but dad is the one who is buzzing for it. Hopefully I can get there. I think it would make my family proud.”
Greaves hits unbeaten ton as West Indies dominate Bangladesh
Justin Greaves hit an unbeaten century – his first red-ball ton – as West Indies ended day two of their first Test against Bangladesh with a commanding 410-run lead.
Greaves resumed alongside Joshua Da Silva with West Indies 250-5 after day one in Antigua, eventually slamming 115 runs off 206 balls faced as the hosts established a dominant position.
His steady knock ensured the Windies recovered nicely after slipping to 261-7 early on, while Kemar Roach hit a career-best 47 through four defiant hours at the crease.
Hasan Mahmud took three day-two wickets for Bangladesh, including that of Roach, as his short delivery angled in to clip the top of middle stump.
Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite declared to put Bangladesh at the crease late on, and there was no respite for the tourists against the hosts' four-man pace attack.
Zakir Hasan fell to Jayden Seales for 15, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy edged Alzarri Joseph for five shortly after being dropped, leaving Bangladesh 40-2 at stumps.
Data Debrief: Career-best for Greaves
Greaves' unbeaten 115 marked his first century in Test cricket, surpassing his previous best knock – a score of 33 versus Australia in January – by some distance.
His strike rate of 55.83 on Saturday, while steady, also bettered his effort of 55.00 during that match in Brisbane. Thanks to his efforts, Bangladesh have a real mountain to climb on day three.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
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