Moeen Ali's shot selection must improve at Test level, says Matt Prior
Tuesday 3 November 2015 06:58, UK
Moeen Ali should not curb his positive mentality - but his decision-making must get better if he is to thrive as a Test batsman, says Matt Prior.
The opener was out for just 14 - falling to Shoaib Malik as he attempted to sweep against the spin - as England battled to 222-4 on day two of the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah to close 12 runs in arrears.
After scoring 35 in his first innings of the series, Moeen now averages 12.40 in five knocks and Prior says that is poor return for such a talented player.
"The one thing we have to be very clear on is we never want him to change that carefree attitude; he's an attacking batsman, a stroke player," Prior told Sky Sports.
"But as an international batsman, you have to play the percentages; there is a risk in everything you do, so you want to play as low-risk an option as possible.
"He'd only faced a couple of balls from Shoaib Malik - the ball's turning away and he's got to judge the bounce and everything else; he played what was a high-risk shot at that particular moment, especially with England wanting to set a good platform.
As an international batsman, you have to play the percentages; there is a risk in everything you do, so you want to play as low-risk an option as possible.
"We want him to maintain an attacking mentality but his decision-making has to get better.
"In this case, if he'd wanted to use his feet and hit the off-spinner through extra cover, that's still an attacking, positive option but it's the right option."
Prior's fellow Sky Sports pundit Rob Key felt Moeen paid the price for attacking the spin of Shoaib too hastily before he had bedded in at the crease on Monday.
"He's good to watch when he plays his shots - he's so elegant, has so much time," said Key.
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"But he had a rush of blood. I don't mind people being positive but when the spin is spinning away from you, as this one was, bide your time and have a look at the pitch first.
"He probably thought the pitch was really going to turn but actually up to that point it hadn't spun that much.
"If he'd had a look at a few, he might have been able to work out a different gameplan but it was another opportunity wasted."
Live coverage of day three of the third Test continues on Sky Sports 2 from 5.45am on Tuesday. You can also watch without a contract on NOW TV. Don't miss highlights of Monday's play at 5pm on Sky Sports 2, followed by The Verdict at 6pm on the same channel.
