Moeen Ali has welcomed the possibility of a very spin-heavy attack with the inclusion of Rehan Ahmed when England take on New Zealand in their Super 8s match at the T20 World Cup on Friday.
England have qualified for the semi-finals with a game to spare after a two-wicket victory over Pakistan thanks to Harry Brook’s 51-ball century.
It marks a record fifth successive time England have made it to the final four, granting them a window in which to rest players in their final Super 8s contest in Colombo, live on Sky Sports.
“I think it’s an opportunity to change the line-up, I think you can play Rehan, maybe give Jofra (Archer) a bit of a break, [maybe] play Josh Tongue,” Moeen told Sky Sports News.
“But I think they are glad they are through because a wicket like this can be tricky if it’s a must-win game. I think on a wicket like that it’s a very good option, spin seems to be dominating, the wicket yesterday (Wednesday) was slow, having two leg-spinners is not a bad thing.”
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Take a look at the best bits from Harry Brook’s 50-ball century against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup, a knock that featured 10 fours and four sixes
Wednesday’s match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on the same surface as England’s game in Colombo saw 10 of 15 victims come via spin.
Ahmed has not played a T20 match since the tour of Ireland in September 2025.
A “strange” feeling awaits for England bowling consultant Tim Southee as he enters the opposing dressing room of his native New Zealand.
He has been working closely with England’s Jofra Archer, who has hit back after a disappointing start to the tournament that saw him produce combined figures of 2-80 across eight overs.
Archer has responded with figures of 15-0-111-8 in four matches while maintaining pace upwards of 90mph, with Southee warning of continued improvement.
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Full highlights at England beat Pakistan by two wickets to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals
“The good sign is that we’ve seen over the last few games he looks like he’s getting better and better so that bodes well for the next few games,” Southee said. “He’s obviously a class bowler.
“He can bowl fast, move the ball and he has an unbelievable amount of skill. Sometimes [you can have] almost too much skill and it’s just about trying to narrow down what’s effective at the time.
“It’s been brilliant to see how he goes about his stuff. He absolutely loves cricket, loves bowling, so it’s been great to work alongside such a great bowler.”
New Zealand coach Rob Walter, meanwhile, insists his team will not be underestimating Jos Buttler amid the opener’s struggles with the bat for England.
Buttler has produced four consecutive single-figure scores for the first time in his T20 international career, scoring just two in England’s win over Pakistan last time out.
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Saim Ayub is caught by Jacob Bethell as Archer makes his mark against Pakistan
“I don’t think you’d ever doubt the quality of Jos Buttler,” Walter said. “He’s got enough numbers behind his name to suggest that he’s one of England’s best white-ball batters.
“But we know that all batters probably find a space in their career somewhere where there’s a lull and sometimes it only takes one knock for that to change.
“Hopefully that’s not on Friday, by the way, but no one will ever doubt his quality and so we won’t.”
Moeen suggested Friday’s free-hit against New Zealand could prove a perfect opportunity for Buttler, particularly in light of Brook’s inspiring game-winning innings.
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Moeen Ali breaks down Brook’s innings and what he could achieve batting higher up the order on a regular basis
“They’d love to play Buttler and hopefully get some runs, even if it’s just 40 or 30 balls, it’s time in the middle, which is a bit of a luxury with a game to spare having qualified,” he said.
“I think that’s a massive positive for the England side, when your captain goes out, plays the way he did, goes at No 3 and sticks his chest out and goes at it, it’s a massive lift and if anything it would give Jos a lift too.
“He probably feels he has to do the same, go out there and be brave, it was an unbelievable innings.”
England’s T20 World Cup Super 8s results and fixtures
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