Ashes 2023: Mooen Ali will end his career thinking he should have batted more at No.3, says Nasser Hussain

By India Today Sports Desk: Former England captain Nasser Hussain suggested that Moeen Ali would end his career, thinking he would have scored more runs had he batted more at No.3. Hussain’s comment hints at the belief that Ali’s batting prowess was perhaps underutilized during his Test career. With an average of 28.29, Ali has proven his ability with the bat, and batting at No.3 could have potentially amplified his contributions to the team.

While Ali’s experience and skill set make him an enticing option for the upcoming Ashes series, other names were mentioned as potential replacements for Leach. “I think we forget what a good young batter Moeen was. Anyone watching a young Moeen growing up would say ‘this lad can bat,” Nasser Hussain said while commentating on Sky Sports.

“That is the reason he has said he wants to bat at No 3. He will end his career thinking he could have got more Test runs for the ability he has got. He wants to go out there and show the world again that he is a proper, proper batter. I think we forget that because he can frustrate,” Hussain added.

England lost opener Ben Duckett early, but made it to lunch safely, sitting on 61 for 1 in their first innings after bowling Australia out for 317 on day two of the fourth Ashes Test on Thursday.

England got off to a good start with a boundary off the first ball, but Duckett fell for one when he was caught behind off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. Crawley remained unbeaten on 26 after surviving one DRS review late in the session, while Moeen Ali passed 3000 international test runs to move onto 31.

Australia will retain the Ashes if they draw or win in Manchester, while a win for the hosts will tie the series and send it to a decider at the Oval in London next week.