Moeen Ali named England skipper for Ashes tour match

After a disappointing start to England’s campaign in the ongoing Ashes series, the Lions are now set to play in a two-day warm-up match. The fixture will be played ahead of the third Ashes Test in Perth. Moeen Ali will captain an England XI in the two-day match against Cricket Australia XI. Moeen headlines the 12-man England squad for the Perth clash, starting on Saturday, with the all-rounder being the only player from the squad that suffered a 120-run loss to Australia at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

The England XI includes five players who did not play in the day-night match in Adelaide – Jake Ball, Gary Balance, Ben Foakes, Mason Crane and Tom Curran. Ball was involved in England’s 10-wicket rout against Australia in the Ashes Opener but he made way for Test debutant Craig Overton for the Adelaide contest, while Crane was also in the mix but missed out.

Ashes spots could be up for grabs at Richardson Park with England trailing Australia 2-0 heading into the Perth Test, starting on December 14.

England’s tour-match squad:

Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Mark Wood

Series details

Following a loss in the Ashes opener, England was adamant for a win in the Adelaide Test. And for the first time in the ongoing series, the Lions looked convincing for a win on the back of some incredible bowling performance on the penultimate day of the second Test. England was full of hope heading into the final day of play, but it only lasted two balls before the Aussie quicks began to put the tourists to the sword.

The visitors’ fifth-day collapse handed the hosts a much needed 2-0 lead. Following the loss, England skipper came under the spotlight for his disastrous decision to send Australia in to bat on day one after winning the toss.