England have responded to their calamitous collapse against Australia in the first Ashes Test by swinging the selection axe.
And while the injured Jimmy Anderson was left out for the second Test at Lord’s it was another England hero who felt the wrath of selectors.
Out of form offspinner Moeen Ali has been dropped from the 12-man squad in favour of 28-year-old left arm tweaker Jack Leach.
His axing could be viewed as a harsh decision given Ali is the leading Test wicket taker from any country over the last 12 months and played a part in England’s stunning World Cup victory.
Ali took just three wickets in the first Test but also looked all at sea with the bat, twice bamboozled by his nemesis, Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon as he made a duck and four with the bat.
Coming into the side for the second Test along with Leach are World Cup hero Jofra Archer, who will directly replace Anderson in the bowling attack and also be making his England Test debut.
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