ALI HAS INDIA IN A SPIN: Moeen Ali, again, was the second-innings star for England in the Old Trafford test, taking 4-39 as India was bowled out for 161. His performance followed match-winning, second-innings figures of 6-67 at the Rose Bowl.
The lack of an obvious replacement for the retired Graeme Swann led England at the start of the series to go for an unbalanced all-pace attack and pick Ali as a batsman who could spin a bit. But his offspin has emerged as a major weapon, an unexpected bonus for England, and covered up for his batting weakness against pace bowling. His 19 wickets in the series are second only to Ray Illingworth's 20 in 1967 by an England spinner at home against India.
