Moeen pleased with Doosra debut
England all-rounder Moeen Ali was pleased with the one doosra delivery he bowled against Sri Lanka, debuting the variation against Mahela Jayawardene late on day three of the second Test.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali was pleased with the one doosra delivery he bowled against Sri Lanka, debuting the variation against Mahela Jayawardene late on day three of the second Test.
Ali had been working on the controversial delivery for months, but had not introduced it to his repertoire in an international game. He bowled it to Jayawardene, who gave a nod and a 'well'done' to the bowler.
Moeen said after the day's play: "Yeah, I bowled one. I was feeling pretty confident so I thought 'why not?'.
"It's the first one I've bowled (for England). I just wanted to do a job for the team first because I'm not as confident with the red ball as I am with the white ball.
"Jayawardene played it quite well but he did sort of say it was alright!"
Moeen was key for England with the old ball on day three, taking two late wickets to put the game in the balance. One of those was Kumar Sangakkara, who had made his seventh half ton in a row.
Moeen added: "It was nice to get him, he's one of my heroes as a batsman. I was just trying to bowl as straight as I could to Sangakkara, bowl a dot ball really.
"He's taken me down a couple of times already but I just trying to do a job for the team and thankfully it came off.
"It was nice to contribute to the side, to bring us back into the game because Sri Lanka were playing really well at the time and to do it in that way was great."
On Monday it was revealed that retired England spinner Graeme Swann would mentor Ali and other young spinners in a quest to find a first-rate tweaker. Moeen said he was always happy to pick Swann's brain.
The spinner continued: "When he comes down I try and speak to him here and there. Why not? He's been one of best spinners in world for the last seven or eight years.
"I've spoken to him here and there and he tries to give me lots of confidence. He's told me to just enjoy it and enjoy playing for England all the time."
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