Cook backs Ali, says Shah ‘up there with spin greats’

Manchester, Thursday: Alastair Cook has insisted Moeen Ali remains England’s first-choice spinner, while saying Pakistan’s Yasir Shah is “up there with the greats”, heading into Friday’s second Test at Old Trafford.

Ali took just two wickets during a 75-run defeat by Pakistan in the first of a four-Test series at Lord’s last week.

By contrast leg-spinner Shah, Pakistan’s specialist slow bowler, had man-of-the match figures of 10 for 141.

Yet for much of his career 29-year-old off-spinner Ali has been regarded as a top-order batsman.