Crisis in England resolved: Moen Ali's sore finger cured fan's potion

Moin Ali's spinning finger healed after a cricket fan sent him medicine. Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images

An England fan helped solve a bowling crisis by sending Moen Ali a hand gel made from honey to heal a sore finger, and now he believes he can play a full part in the rest of the series Ashes.

Moin badly cut his index finger during the first Test at Edgbaston when he returned to red ball cricket after a two-year absence. He's not used to bowling with a Dukes ball that has a pronounced seam that blistered his bowling arm.

Moin injured his right index finger while playing his first red ball game in 21 months at Edgbaston. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire

This limited him to the second innings of this match and forced him to miss the second test at Lord while he healed. It was after Edgbaston that an England supporter wrote to him suggesting the use of a hand gel made from manuka honey. She sent him a tube that costs about £18 and it worked. Moin says he can now play long spells without pain or discomfort.

“This lady sent me an email after the first test. She said I'm a big fan of yours and I saw a wound and a cut on my finger,» he told Telegraph Sport.

«I want to send you something to help. She sent me this thing called Medimed. This is a healing antibacterial gel made from Manuka honey. He worked wonders and began to heal very quickly.

“She just said she used it. and works for the NHS. I'm going to email her after the series [to say thank you]. I find this an amazing thing. I play cricket and someone who has never seen me is generous enough to do so. That's why England is an amazing place because of these things. Now I will keep bowling to keep it as heavy as it is now. I want to keep bowling every 2-3 days to make my skin firmer.”

Medihoney Gel claims to heal skin. Moen was so impressed that he gave it to other spinners in the game. Friars balm, mineral spirits, and even dipping your finger in urine are old tricks passed down from generation to generation by bowlers to toughen skin. Manuka honey is a more palatable healing tool.

Moin only scored 26 overs at Headingley in the right conditions, but his bowling performance is likely to play a much larger role in the last two Tests at Old Trafford and «Oval». . He is unlikely to extend his return to Test cricket beyond this series and return to the franchise league market. He only came out of retirement in an emergency following an injury to Jack Leach.

He is expected to continue as number 3 at Old Trafford after filling that role in the second inning at Headingley. This allows Harry Brook to shoot in his preferred position at number 5. England will start training in Manchester on Monday.