Mark Butcher says Moeen Ali continuing to bat at No.3 for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford is “neither a good thing or a bad thing” after England named an unchanged batting order for the match.

Moeen moved up the order at his own suggestion for the second innings at Headingley. Harry Brook was given the responsibility in Ollie Pope’s absence for the first innings, but was moved back down he only managed three runs before falling to Pat Cummins. Moeen made five from 15 balls in England’s fourth innings chase before he was bowled by Mitchell Starc.

Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Butcher said the decision was the best one which England have available to them for the must-win match which starts tomorrow (Wednesday July 19).

“I feel pretty much the same as I did about the Headingley Test XI to be honest with you,” said Butcher. “Which was that almost by accident they ended up with a team which has got a far better balance to it than the ones that played in the first two Test matches.

“Moeen Ali at No.3, it could work, it might not work but it’s simply a case of that nobody else really wants to do the gig. He volunteered for it and they’d rather have Harry Brook where he’s been most successful at No.5, and it means that they get the spinner into the team which I agree with on every level. So look, it’s a compromise. It’s neither a good thing or a bad thing. It might not work, it might fall flat on its face, but that’s Bazball, right? So it’s all good.”

Batting Moeen at three allows England to play four seamers in their side (Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and James Anderson) with Ben Stokes not expected to be able to bowl. While there were calls for Stokes himself to move up the order, that would risk destabilising a powerhouse middle-order.

The only change England have made to their XI is to include Anderson on his home ground in place of Ollie Robinson. Robinson suffered a back spasm on day one of the Headingley Test and was unable to bowl for large swathes of the game. Anderson played in the first two Tests of the series but looked short on rhythm and a way off his unplayable best.

However, Wood is fit to play back-to-back Tests after a blistering display at Headingley. On his importance to England’s chances of levelling the series, Butcher said: “We’ve had eight days, nine days between the Test matches which raises anticipation. It also means Mark Wood has had the chance to benefit from having had the overs in his legs at Headingley and the rest as well.

“You would expect him to be faster for longer and potentially the difference between the two teams again if the weather plays ball and we get the sort of pitch that we normally get at Old Trafford, which is hard, lots of carry, potential for reverse swing if it stays dry.”

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