Ashes 2023: Moeen Ali gambit fails as Mitchell Starc rattles former's leg stump

Australia speedster Mitchell Starc produced a scintillating delivery to dismiss England’s Moeen Ali in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds on Sunday, July 9. Notably, the Three Lions require 251 runs to win their first Test in the five-match series.

In the midst of the chase, following the dismissal of Ben Duckett, England decided to promote Moeen Ali up the order. However, the ploy backfired as speedster Starc bamboozled the batter in quick time to send him packing for a paltry score of five runs off 15 balls.

Watch Moeen Ali's dismissal:

Mitchell Starc the greatest.🐐#Ashes23#Ashes2023pic.twitter.com/eoh8ttYiLZ

— Yr Samar (@Yrtweets) July 9, 2023

The dismissal occurred on the fifth ball of the 14^th over when Starc bowled a straighter delivery at 90mph/144kph, to which Moeen tried to drive the ball away with hardly any footwork. However, the English batter got a slight inside edge and the ball ripped through his leg stump to send him back to the pavilion.

England look to earn their first win

Notably, the Aussies could only manage to post 224 runs in the third innings of the Test, thereby setting a target of 251 runs. Travis Head top scored for the side as he compiled a 112-ball 77 which featured seven boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 68.75.

Seasoned pacer Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes got three wickets apiece whereas Mark Wood and Moeen Ali got four wickets between them to wrap up the innings. The Three Lions got off to a brisk start during the chase, scoring 27 runs in five overs at the close of Day 3.

After having lost four wickets on the penultimate day, the rest of the English batting unit will be gunning to play invaluable knocks and secure a win for the side. Australia on the other hand will need to amp up their game and land lethal blows in order to claw their way back into the contest.