England all-rounder Moeen Ali wants Alastair Cook’s men to “put the foot on the throat” against Australia as they bid to complete a 4-1 Ashes series triumph at The Oval next week.
England regained the Ashes with a dominant innings and 78-run victory over Australia in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
No England side has ever won four Tests in a single home Ashes campaign but that target will be in the team’s sights when they reassemble in south London for the series finale after a week off from Ashes action which will see Ali involved in a domestic Twenty20 quarter-final for Worcestershire against Hampshire on Friday.
“It’s a great opportunity to win 4-1 in a big series,” Ali told Sky Sports on Wednesday. “We’ve played so well up to now, and we don’t want to mess anything up.
“We want to keep the rhythm up, keep the way we’re playing and ... put the foot on the throat.”
Steven Smith vows to be a ‘more aggressive’ Australia captain after dismal Ashes tour
The last four innings of the Ashes have witnessed successive six-wicket returns from England pacemen James Anderson, Steven Finn (both starring in the eight-wicket win at Edgbaston), with Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes carrying on at Trent Bridge.
Broad’s haul was the most sensational, the fast-medium bowler taking eight for 15, including his 300th wicket in Tests, on his Nottinghamshire home ground as Australia were dismissed for just 60 in 111 balls — the shortest completed first innings of any Test — in 94 minutes of mayhem at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
“The last two games have been two-and-a-half days, and it’s been an amazing effort from the bowlers especially,” Ali said.
“Everyone has enjoyed watching the Ashes and everyone I talk to is really buzzing ... long may it continue.”
That England lead 3-1 with one to play this Ashes is a scoreline few would have forecast when they were being whitewashed 5-0 in Australia some 18 months ago or crashing out of the first round of the World Cup in embarrassing fashion earlier this year.
“It’s been a tough 18 months leading up to it, so we made sure we enjoyed it,” Ali said. “They absolutely smashed us at Lord’s (where Australia won the second Test by 405 runs) and never gave us a sniff — and we’ve done that to them pretty much three times.”
Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to retire from international cricket after the Oval Test, his struggle for runs this series part of the wider middle-order batting frailties that have condemned Australia to a fourth successive Ashes loss in England.
“They’re still a great side ... and Michael Clarke is an absolute legend of the game,” Ali said.
“It’s obviously a shame when someone has to retire ...(but) he’s obviously a magnificent player, and captain.”
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
RESULTS
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
