Harbhajan Singh comes out in support of Moeen Ali. Moeen Ali penalise 25% of his match fee for violating Level 1 of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct.
Moeen Ali returned from Test retirement to play in the ongoing Ashes series in England. Appearing in the first Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Ali deliver 29 overs on Day 2 alone after bowling only 26 overs in the first two months of the Indian Premier League. The off-spinner’s lengthy day at work resulted in a blister on his finger. Ali seen applying a drying agent to his bowling hand at the boundary line in the 89th over of Australia’s first innings.
Ali fine 25% of his match pay from the first Test by the International Cricket Council for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The senior cricketer received one demerit point as well. Andy Pycroft, the match referee, proposed the sanction, which he accepted. Since then, much has been made about the incident on social media, with some harsh words directed at the 36-year-old.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh defend Ali on Twitter, saying he is perplex by all the chatter about Ali applying spray on his finger to relieve a blister. Harbhajan, on the other hand, state that the only thing the England player could have done differently to notify the umpires before applying the spray.
“I’m not sure what all the fuss is about Moen Ali applying spray on rotating fingers to numb the pain. The only problem is that he should have told the umpires. Because if the batsman has a blister under the gloves, he gets spray. Will anyone take notice? Consider the same logic? #Ashes2023”
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Australia go 1-0 up in the Ashes
England maintained with their ‘Bazball’ approach, but Australia responded in the first Test by keeping to traditional Test cricket thinking. Usman Khawaja (34) and Scott Boland (13) resume batting for Australia on Day 5 as they chase a goal of 281 runs.
On Day 5, Australia needed 174 runs in 67 overs with seven wickets in hand. Overs were miss as a result of a weather delay in the early stages of Day 5. Khawaja added a critical 65 to his century in the first innings. England fought back and had Australia in trouble at 227/8 with 54 runs remaining. However, Australia won with two wickets to spare thanks to a key unbeaten 44-run innings from skipper Pat Cummins and invaluable backing from Nathan Lyon (16*).
The second Ashes Test begins on June 28 at Lord’s in London.
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