SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF ENGLAND 2017

Moeen hails Saqlain Mushtaq as the "biggest difference"

by Rob Johnston • Last updated on

The England allrounder credited team's spin bowling consultant, Saqlain Mushtaq, for his recent success in the four-Test series against South Africa. © Getty

Following his Man of the Series display against South Africa, Moeen Ali has credited England's spin bowling coach, Saqlain Mushtaq, for his recent improvement with the ball.

Moeen took 25 wickets in the series in addition to scoring 252 runs, becoming the first player ever to do the 25 wicket and 250 run double in a four-match Test series. But it was the improvement in his bowling which really stood out.

Before this series, Moeen averaged 42.22 with the ball and had taken just two five-wicket hauls in 37 Tests. In this series, he averaged less than 16 and took five wickets at both Lord's, where he took ten for the match, and Old Trafford. It has been quite a turnaround since a difficult tour of India over the winter where he had taken just ten wickets in five Tests.

Before play each morning, Moeen has been seen working with Saqlain on the practice pitches, aiming for a white towel placed on a length. It has become somewhat of a tradition. "Saqi has been amazing for me, helping me with my fields and making me understand my bowling a lot more than I have previously," Moeen said. "I think that's been the biggest difference."

Former Pakistani offspinner Saqlain knows English conditions well having had a stellar career for Surrey in county cricket. He took over 500 wickets in a nine-year stint in South London, adding to more than 200 Test wickets for Pakistan.

He joined the England squad as a spin bowling consultant for the first three Tests in India over the winter and although he is not yet on a full-time deal, the ECB have secured his services for the remainder of this summer. Given Moeen's improvement and his recommendation of Saqlain's impact, a permanent deal is surely on the cards.

Moeen hasn't made any obvious technical changes. Instead, he says Saqlain has helped his "action, field settings, type of batters that are in". The work the duo have done has been as much tactical and strategic as anything else. "Before I just bowled and didn't really think too much, let the captain set the field," Moeen said. "I would say I set the field most of the time throughout the series.

"There's always something new with Saqi. The basics are always the same but he's brilliant with my mind-set, to try and repeat the same thing as much as I can. He's found a few variations in my bowling and hopefully I can work on to get them ready."

Moeen has certainly been more consistent this series, something he attributes to bowling more in practice than he has ever done before. His performances in the fourth innings of England's three victories read: 6-53 at Lord's; 4-45 at the Oval including a hat-trick; and 5-69 at Old Trafford. "The most pleasing things would be bowling last, having the mind-set of winning games," he said.

"If it's spinning, it's my job in the team to take wickets. I didn't have a wicket for a while [on the fourth day at Old Trafford] and in the past I'd have tried a few things but I just stayed as patient as I could, changed my field a bit and got a wicket."

While Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis were going well during a partnership of 123 in Manchester, Moeen bowled the most of any England bowler at them. Although the batsmen were playing comfortably, Moeen was keeping things tight and constantly asking questions. And even during the day's play, Saqlain's influence was being sought.

Just before he dismissed Amla, LBW playing back to a ball which spun sharply, Moeen had taken a comfort break. Before returning to the field, he spoke to Saqlain who suggested putting in a silly-point. Soon after, the South African played back to a ball he may have otherwise pushed forward to and the wicket came. The discussion and resulting field change may not have had an impact. But it may have done.

Despite his success with the ball in this series, Moeen still regards himself as a batsman who bowls. "I still believe I'm a batsman," he said. "I feel like it's the strong point of my game. When or if the opportunity ever comes for me to bat up the order, hopefully I can do that. No matter how many wickets I get, I will always be a batter."

That chance to bat up the order is unlikely to come soon as England seem settled on a balance of three seamers, three all-rounders and five batsmen. It is certainly no reflection on Moeen's ability that he is batting at number eight and he is not the type to grumble. Following the series win, coach Trevor Bayliss praised Moeen for being the "ultimate team man".

He has had success at number eight, scoring five Test fifties from that position, and showed during his unbeaten 75 in the third innings at Old Trafford that his natural free-scoring game is a dangerous weapon when batting with the tail against tired attacks. It is a luxury to have Moeen there but it is also a huge strength of England's team to have a proper batsman in that position.

Attention now turns to a three-match series against the Windies although this winter's Ashes is fast looming in to view. Barring injury, it will be Moeen's first Test series in Australia. "You always try to perform to get on that tour," Moeen said. "You know it's a massive series and you hope to be part of that. I would love to be there and hopefully I'll have Saqi next to me to help me out."

© Cricbuzz

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