“He didn’t say a lot technically, although there were one or two tips I have worked on since. It was more the mindset of bowling spin,” Moeen said afterwards. “He described it as a long journey on a boat and sometimes there will be stormy water – the equivalent of batsmen coming after you – but as soon as the storm is over, you need to refocus.”

Moeen has endured his toughest year in Test cricket as a spin bowler. He is averaging 66 with the ball in 2016 and has developed a habit of bowling moon balls which fly out the top of his hand. One last week in a one-day at Headingley was so high that Jonny Bairstow keeping wicket could not reach it.