Moeen Ali named England vice-captain for fourth India Test

With Jos Buttler away from the squad for the birth of his second child, Ben Stokes taking an indefinite break from the game, and Stuart Broad injured, the off-spinning allrounder will step into the role

Moeen Ali will be Joe Root's right-hand man for the fourth Test against India after replacing Jos Buttler as England vice-captain.

Moeen, who has plenty of leadership experience on the domestic circuit with Worcestershire, did not start the series in the Test squad and does not have a red-ball central contract, but was parachuted into the side following the first Test.

With Buttler away from the squad for the birth of his second child, regular vice-captain Ben Stokes taking an indefinite break from the game, and a further interim vice-captain in the shape of Stuart Broad injured, the off-spinning allrounder will step into the breach at the Kia Oval.

"I think Moeen is a natural leader," skipper Root said on Wednesday.

^{Moeen Ali will be Joe Root's vice-captain at the Kia Oval}

"He's someone people gravitate towards for a number of reasons, one of them being the way he understands the game.

"You could see, at mid-off in the last game, the conversations he and Jimmy were having at crucial points.

"He's got a brilliant cricket brain, he's done wonderfully well when he's done the job in domestic cricket.

"I'm sure it's a proud moment for him and it's something that he's thoroughly deserved."

England v India: Series latest