MOEEN MAY NOT BOWL IN SECOND TEST DUE TO FINGER PROBLEM

England all-rounder has been struggling with a cut to his index finger

Moeen Ali's off-spin may not be available to England in the second Ashes Test because of his finger injury, captain Joe Root has said.

The all-rounder sustained a cut to his spinning index finger during the first Test in Brisbane and may not have fully recovered in time for the start of play in Adelaide on Saturday.

Root believes the Worcestershire man, who hit 38 and 40 at the Gabba, could slot into the team as a specialist batsman but he and England will give Moeen as long as they can to prove his fitness.

"We'll have another look at things after practice and see how he is then and see if there's any more damage to it and then we'll have to make a decision from there," Root said.

"His batting's been a huge part of our team for a long period of time now so I think he would still play as a batter."

^{Moeen Ali has been struggling with a finger injury}

Mason Crane, the Hampshire leg-spinner, could make his debut should Moeen not make it.

"I think we'll have to look at the situation with Moeen, see how bad it is, look at the conditions but it's definitely not out of the question," Root said.

Meanwhile, the England skipper has been buoyed by weather conditions in Adelaide.

Rain and cloud have invaded the skies over the South Australian city and Root believes that should assist the tourists as they look to claw back the 1-0 series deficit.

"It's very English outside," he said. "It's forecast to be damp and that should play into our hands."

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