Moeen heaps praise on Saqlain after spin heroics

England

England allrounder Moeen Ali has heaped praise on spin bowling coach Saqlain Mustaq after being named as his side’s man of the series in the Test series against South Africa.

Moeen became the first player in history to score more than 250 runs and take 25 wickets in a four-match Test series as England beat the Proteas 3-1.

The right-arm bowler took his first ten-wicket haul in the longest format in the first Test at Lord’s while he also bowled England to victory in the final Test at Old Trafford on Monday, capturing 5/69.

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The off-spinner credits his success with the ball to former Pakistan slow-bowler Saqlain who has worked with the England team on a consultancy basis.

Saqlain himself was an accomplished spinner, having taken 208 wickets in 49 Tests for Pakistan.

Moeen said: “Saqi has been amazing for me in terms of helping with my fields and helping me understanding my bowling a lot more than I had done previously. That has been the biggest difference.

“I feel a lot more confidence in my ability and I felt it was building. I had been batting well over the last year and the bowling was coming along.

“I understand my action better, the field settings, the type of batsmen I am facing. These are little things that can make a big difference.

“Earlier in my career I didn’t really think too much. I just bowled and let the captain set the field. In this series, I set my own fields a lot more.”

England Moeen Ali Saqlain Mustaq

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