There have been questions raised over whether Moeen Ali can be a reliable number four batsman in Test cricket and he answered those doubts with his second hundred of the series against India on Friday.
There was a lot of praise for the 29-year-old on Twitter with former English fast bowler Alex Tudor tweeting that Ali’s ‘haters’ had disappeared from social media.
Joe Root, who scored a fluent 88, was also hailed with former English cricketer and commentator David Lloyd calling him ‘world-class’. On other hand, both Lloyd and Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle noted that Root’s inability to convert 50s into 100s on a regular basis is a concern.
Here, we collect the top tweets of the day.
J Root has had an excellent tour ..he will be so angry to miss out on centuries but has proved to be a world class player
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) December 16, 2016
On this tour the only thing that Cook-the captain has done right is winning the toss. At least the myth--win-the-toss-win-the-game-is broken
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 16, 2016
Can't see the @MoeenAli haters on here this morning...I wonder why?? 😏😏 #No4
— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) December 16, 2016
This was the innings Root had to convert into a match defining one. Throughout he has looked exceptional without delivering the big one
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2016
Joe Root is the 1st player to score a fifty in all 5 matches of a Test series on two occasions (also v Ind in 2014).
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 16, 2016
The last time India XI were unchanged was the Lord's Test in July 2014 (won by 95 runs!)
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 15, 2016
Since then in 26 Tests never same XI!#IndvEng
Jadeja Against Captains:
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 16, 2016
Clarke -5 times in 2012-13 series
Amla -3 times in 2015-16 series
Cook -5 times in this series#INDvENG #IndvsEng
1000 runs-30 wickets in a year:
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) December 16, 2016
.@BeefyBotham 1095 47 (1982)
.@jacqueskallis75 1120 35 (2001)
.@MoeenAli 1008 36 (2016)@mtanmay#INDvENG
Is there a surface anywhere in the world on which Joe Root cannot score fluently? Blancmange? Rice pudding? The mattress in my hotel room?
— Scyld Berry (@scyldberry) December 16, 2016
