{"id":321417,"date":"2025-08-06T02:51:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T02:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/321417\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T02:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T02:51:18","slug":"ex-england-star-moeen-ali-slams-clown-david-warner-over-joe-root-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/321417\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-England star Moeen Ali slams ‘clown’ David Warner over Joe Root comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"CRICKET-ENG-IND\"
\n\t\tJoe Root went second on the all-time Test run-scorer list in England\u2019s absorbing series with India (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Moeen Ali has branded David Warner a \u2018clown\u2019 after the Australian legend said Joe Root<\/a> would need to \u2018take the surfboard off his front leg\u2019 if England are to win the Ashes.<\/p>\n

Despite Root tightening his grip on top spot in the men\u2019s Test batting rankings this summer, Warner couldn\u2019t resist taking a shot at his old rival as England\u2019s enthralling five-match series with India<\/a> drew to a close.<\/p>\n

England now have a three-month break from the Test arena before heading Down Under in late November, where they will look to get their hands on the urn for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n

A masterful 150 saw Root surpass Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to go second on the all-time Test run-scorer list as England and India were forced to settle for a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old followed up his ton in Manchester with another memorable hundred at the Oval, though the century was ultimately in vain as the tourists snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to level the series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While Sachin Tendulkar is now the only batsman above Root in the annals of history, Warner suggested there was still a big weakness in the Yorkshireman\u2019s game which Australia\u2019s bowlers will look to expose.<\/p>\n

\u2018The big anchor there is Root, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia,\u2019 the outspoken former Australian opener told the BBC.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"BBL
\n\t\tWarner believes Root is vulnerable to LBW dismissals (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"England
\n\t\tWarner said Root would have to remove the \u2018surfboard off his front leg\u2019 (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018[Josh] Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.\u2019<\/p>\n

Needless to say, Warner\u2019s latest attempts at sledging \u2013 18 months after his retirement from Test cricket \u2013 have caused quite a stir amongst both England and Australia fans ahead of this winter\u2019s eagerly anticipated Ashes series.<\/p>\n

Former England pace bowler Stuart Broad, who famously tormented Warner across their many Ashes battles, tweeted: \u2018I\u2019ve never heard England\u2019s best ever batters front pad called a surfboard [two crying laughing emojis].<\/p>\n

\u2018Just for clarity. Hazlewood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019ve never heard England\u2019s best ever batters front pad called a Surfboard \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02Just for clarity. Hazelwood has got Rooty LBW in Test Cricket 3 times. Three. https:\/\/t.co\/HZc7hojQHi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 2, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\t\t\"Central
\n\t\tAli has labelled Warner a \u2018clown\u2019 for trying to get in Root\u2019s head (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Former England all-rounder Ali, meanwhile, suggested Warner was being foolish for even trying to get into the head of one of the greats of the game.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s just being Warner. He\u2019s a bit of a clown to be honest with you,\u2019 Ali said on the Beard Before Wicket<\/a> podcast.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s trying to, obviously, get into Rooty\u2019s head, which he won\u2019t. He\u2019s not up for the whole banter thing.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s just Warner, isn\u2019t it?\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"India
\n\t\tAli is confident Warner\u2019s remarks will have no effect on Root (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

According to Ali, Root now has so much experience under his belt that Warner\u2019s comments will roll off him like water off a duck\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are certain players that people would have identified to get under their skin in different ways,\u2019 Ali added.<\/p>\n

\u2018I remember in the 2016 T20 World Cup final against the West Indies, we were like, \u201cRight, when [Marlon] Samuels is batting, don\u2019t say anything because he actually plays better sometimes when you get into him\u2026 we won\u2019t say anything, leave him alone\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018But I remember from the first ball, Jason Roy and [Ben] Stokesy were just flying into him and I was thinking, \u201cOh my god\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are different ways to do it. Some guys, you just don\u2019t say anything to.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jonny [Bairstow] was another one. He loved it, he was looking for it. Virat [Kohli] the same, looking for a fight, looking for something.<\/p>\n

\u2018But Rooty\u2026 the guy has scored so many runs now, he\u2019s been through the whole thing and it won\u2019t effect him.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ali continued: \u2018India tried it [with Root] and it just didn\u2019t work, clearly didn\u2019t work, because he scored loads of runs.<\/p>\n

\u2018But yeah, there\u2019s some players you can do that to and others that you can\u2019t.\u2019 <\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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