Moeen urges England to 'start again' and ditch old guard in dramatic ODI reset

06 November 2023 , 08:28

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Moeen has urged England to undergo another ODI reset (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England need to ‘start again’ with their ODI side and move on from the old guard who delivered their first World Cup win four years ago.

That is the honest admission from one of their white ball revolutionaries Moeen Ali, who reckons a similar 2015-like reset, after failing to get out of their group at that tournament too, is required after the most embarrassing of World Cup defences.

The vice-captain has been a central figure over the past eight years of mainly success for the 50-over side, but he reckons he and his teammates failed to spot the warning signs before the tournament that the ‘writing was on the wall.’

In the end a fifth defeat in a row, the latest at the hands of Australia, to officially end their campaign at the group stage has made the future much clearer in his mind. And even though he says there will be a conversation about his own future with Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott after signing a new one year white ball deal with the ECB, it is clear that he is content with sticking to a T20 career now.

How many others will be happy to do the same is another matter, but Moeen fully expects a fresh start with players desperate to prove themselves and challenge for silverware rather than wooden spoons.

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Moeen Ali reckons it is time for younger players to do the ODI lifting (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“Everything good comes to an end,” said Moeen. “Maybe the writing was on the wall and we just didn’t see it as players because we thought we’d be performing well. But I just think everything good comes to an end at some point and I think if I was in charge I’d play the younger guys.

“It’s very exciting because going forward we’ve got some really good players we know will come back into the squad, with that fearless playing, so that restart we had in 2015 could start again. I’d just do that and I’m sure they’re going to do that. It’s common sense more than anything. You want that fearless approach and it’s a great time to start again.

“I’m obviously going to speak to Jos and Motty and see what they want from me, whether they want me around or whatever, I don’t know. If they say, ‘look we’re going to go with younger players and start again’ then I’m more than happy. I get it, I understand, and like I said, everything good comes to an end at some point.”

Harry Brook will be a big part of England's white ball future ((Photo by BIJU BORO/AFP via Getty Images))

There will be conversations to be had with the likes of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root on their ODI futures with some experience needed to help the next generation develop. But the driving forces of the side must surely be players such as Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, and Gus Atkinson.

Before the restart takes place though there is the small matter of the final two games here to secure Champions Trophy qualification - a big deal in the World Cup cycle.

“I know how important the Champions Trophy is in terms of experience at a world event,” said Moeen. “Ahead of the World Cup you get that experience, especially with potentially younger players coming in so it’s very important we as players make sure we qualify.”

Dean Wilson