Published: Aug 13, 2015, 04:16 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 13, 2015, 04:16 PM (IST)
England all-rounder Moeen Ali wants Alastair Cook’s men to “put the foot on the throat” against Australia as they bid to complete a 4-1 Ashes series triumph at The Oval next week. England regained the Ashes with a dominant innings and 78-run victory over Australia in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday. No England side has ever won four Tests in a single home Ashes campaign but that target will be in the team’s sights when they reassemble in south London for the series finale after a week off from Ashes action which will see Ali involved in a domestic Twenty20 quarter-final for Worcestershire against Hampshire on Friday.
“It’s a great opportunity to win 4-1 in a big series,” Ali told Sky Sports on Wednesday. “We’ve played so well up to now, and we don’t want to mess anything up. We want to keep the rhythm up, keep the way we’re playing and…put the foot on the throat,” the off-spinner and stylish batsman added.
The last four innings of the Ashes have witnessed successive six-wicket returns from England pacemen James Anderson, Steven Finn (both starring in the eight-wicket win at Edgbaston), with Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes carrying on at Trent Bridge. Broad’s haul was the most sensational, the fast-medium bowler taking eight for 15, including his 300th wicket in Tests, on his Nottinghamshire home ground as Australia were dismissed for just 60 in 111 balls — the shortest completed first innings of any Test — in 94 minutes of mayhem at Trent Bridge on Thursday. “The last two games have been two-and-a-half days, and it’s been an amazing effort from the bowlers especially,” said Ali.
(Text Courtesy: AFP)
