Moeen Ali's return to Test cricket is going terribly with the veteran spinner lamenting expensive bowling, a 25 per cent reduction of his match fee and a deteriorating finger.
Not only did Moeen register 2-147 from 33 overs in Australia's first innings at Edgbaston, the 36-year-old was fined for applying an unauthorised drying agent to his spinning finger.
The wily off-spinner?, who was pulled from Test retirement following the injury blow to Jack Leach, was spotted spraying a substance from an aerosol can on his bowling hand while fielding during the 89th over.
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Taking on such a heavy workload in his first Test since September 2021 proved a huge challenge with Moeen developing a blister on his spinning finger.
Moeen used the spray on day two and learned of his fine after arriving at the Birmingham venue on day three.?
His finger worsened to the point that he left the field late in Australia's innings, casting further doubt over how useful he will be when England bowls again.?
"We've got to remember: Moeen is coming fresh off playing IPL cricket and not bowling a lot of overs per game, so it's a big ask to come in and bowl 30-odd overs - and that's just in the first innings," said former Australian spinner Steve O'Keefe on Nine's coverage.
"So how he bounces back from that in the second innings is going to be vital for England."
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Former Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch forecast many more overs for Joe Root, a part-time off-spinner, over the remainder of the first Test.?
"That has to hurt. To be able to get a grip on the ball would be really difficult and painful," Finch said.
"Joe Root will have to bowl a lot of overs in the second innings, I think."?
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