(Reuters) – Moeen Ali, the vice-captain of the England cricket team, is expressing support for bringing in new talent after the team’s elimination from the ongoing 50-over World Cup in India.
England suffered their sixth defeat in seven matches against Australia on Saturday, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. Despite being considered one of the pre-tournament favorites, England could not replicate their success from winning the Twenty20 World Cup last year.
Moeen Ali, a 36-year-old all-rounder batsman, believes that younger players should be given opportunities in the team.
“Everything good comes to an end, and perhaps the signs were there, but as players, we didn’t realize it because we thought we would perform well,” Moeen stated.
“It’s very exciting because in the future, we have some talented players who will join the squad, and they play fearlessly. This could be a new beginning, just like in 2015,” he added.
“If I were in charge, I would select the younger players. I would start afresh, and I’m confident that they will do the same. We need that fearless approach again, and it’s an ideal time to begin anew,” Moeen expressed.
Moeen confirmed that he intends to discuss this matter with captain Jos Buttler and white-ball coach Matthew Mott.
“If they decide to opt for younger players and start over, I fully support it. I understand that everything good eventually comes to an end,” he further commented.
England, with matches remaining against the Netherlands and Pakistan, now aims to secure a top-eight finish in order to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Miral Fahmy)
