Ben Stokes picks oldest seam Test attack since 1928

PAUL NEWMAN: England turn to Dad’s Army! Ben Stokes picks oldest seam Test attack since 1928 as they attempt to stick it up the Aussies at Old Trafford

• James Anderson and Stuart Broad will line up together again for England
• Chris Woakes and Mark Wood have kept their places after impressive showings
• Moeen Ali will again bat at number three to help the other players remain settled 

If old really is gold, as Moeen Ali put it on Monday, then England have nothing to fear when their Dad’s Army attack marches out at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

There was certainly no sense of panic from England as they named the oldest seam attack to compete in any Ashes Test since 1928 and one of the most senior bowling line-ups, when a 36-year-old spinner in Moeen is thrown in, they can ever have fielded.

England do look a stronger side for the recall of Jimmy Anderson, champing at the bit to make his mark on what could be his last Test on his home ground, at the expense of a bowler in Ollie Robinson struggling for both fitness and pace in this series.

Moeen thinks so. He will carry on in the No3 role to allow others to stay in their preferred places for this mouth-watering fourth Test and is excited to be part of an ageing England attack charged with rattling Australia and levelling the Ashes. After all, as Mark Wood proved with his electrifying pace in Leeds, Australia don’t like it up ‘em.

‘I think it’s a great thing to be part of,’ said Moeen of England’s ageing attack as both sets of Ashes soldiers reported for duty after catching their breath for nine days since the mini-miracle of Headingley. ‘It’s great to have Jimmy back and they are all brilliant bowlers.

Moeen Ali will be part of an England attack that is one of the oldest bowling attacks they have ever fielded

Stuart Broad (left) and James Anderson (right) will line up together again after Anderson was recalled to the side

Moeen will bat at No 3 again in the fourth Test and has promised to ‘try to bat properly’

‘The thing with guys with this kind of experience is you always know what you’re going to get. You may not know what you’ll get with me but you do with them!’

It has been quite a summer for Moeen. He came out of red-ball retirement to answer England’s SOS when Jack Leach was ruled out of the Ashes with a stress fracture of the back.

Then, after missing training to collect his OBE, he damaged his spinning finger struggling to cope with the Dukes ball and the extra workload on his return at Edgbaston, with Moeen ending up being fined for using a spray on it without the umpires permission.

After being left out at Lord’s Moeen returned at Headingley to take the key wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at a crucial stage of England’s victory and ended up at No3 in their run-chase after volunteering to protect Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow.

And all with a patched-up index finger strengthened, as Mail Sport revealed, by a honey remedy sent to him by an NHS worker who saw his pain and wanted to help.

He will stay at three for now, going up the batting order for once rather than sliding down it, in a selfless gesture that typifies the man and the values Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have instilled in this England team.

‘I think for the team right now it’s the best position for me,’ said the 36-year-old Moeen, who is not looking, for now at least, to extend his Test return beyond tomorrow’s match and the final Test at the Oval next week.

‘I just thought Brooky’s value at five and Jonny’s at seven would be better for the team when I suggested this. I thought ‘why not?’ I’ve batted three before. I’ve made Test hundreds before. It’s not like I can’t do it. And I’ve passed the stage where it’s about me, averages or anything like that.’

Harry Brook, who batted at No 3 in the first innings of the third Test, will go back to No 5

Moeen is on the verge of the all-rounder’s double of 3,000 Test runs and 200 wickets

Moeen will, though, ‘try to bat properly’ rather than act as some sort of Bazball pinch-hitter which should give him a better chance of scoring the 23 more he needs to complete the all-rounder’s double of 3,000 Test runs and 200 wickets in his 67th match.

‘I think that would mean more to my dad,’ he said. ‘It would mean a lot to me as well but my dad is the one who is buzzing for it so hopefully I can get there.

‘I know it’s only 20-odd runs but it feels like miles off! I hope it happens and I know it would make my family proud.’

He has been struggling with his spinning finger but is confident it can now cope with the demands

And Moeen is confident his finger can now cope with the demands placed on it at a ground known for spin – it looked better on Monday without being fully healed – thanks to the anonymous fan who came to his aid when he was struggling after Edgbaston.

‘I got home after that Test and a few days later I got a letter from a lady who said her husband was a big fan of mine,’ he told the BBC. ‘They were watching and saw the gash on my finger and thought Medihoney would really help me. So I tried it and it healed my finger straightaway. I thought ‘wow, this is amazing’.

‘The only thing I’m gutted about is that I can’t find the letter and I really want to reply to this lady. I put it on a table thinking I’d reply and I can’t find it now. If she is reading this please get in contact again because I really want to write back and say thank you.’

The Good Samaritan will have the thanks of the nation if Moeen and his fellow golden oldies bowl England to victory here and set up a decider at the Oval.

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