England have had a torrid time this Ashes series with them first losing the urn and second in the absence of key players like Ben Stokes and several others unwanted controversies. To add to that Moeen Ali’s lack of form was also questionable especially when he was expected to deliver in Stokes’ absence.

However, his good friend and England team mate Jonny Bairstow has come out in support of Ali’s inclusion in the side for the fifth and final Test match in Sydney and has said this is the time when he needs support from coach and captain.

"The guy is the second-fastest ever to 2000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets," the wicketkeeper-batsman said when the tourist arrived in Sydney for the fifth and final Test, which starts on Thursday. It's unquestionable to even think that he's not in our best XI. He wouldn't have played the first four Test matches if he wasn't.

"There's not many finger-spinners that will come to Australia and bowl teams out. It's very important that we get behind Mo. He can take a game away from you, and whether it be the next game or the first Test in New Zealand, the capabilities of Moeen Ali are unquestioned” added Bairstow.

Bairstow further added that England still wants to win the final Test match knowing that the series is gone.

"You’ve got to play your best team," he said. "We're still in it to win games of cricket. Whether that's Mason playing, the XI will be going out to win this next Test match.

"Yes, the series has gone. But you can see from the spirit that the guys showed in the last Test match that by no means is the foot off the gas. We're very proud to play cricket for England. We're indebted to the guys coming out, the best fans in the world.

"We've been pretty close in all the Test matches, a session and a half either way. It was exactly the same in Melbourne.

"To put a substantial total on the board and then to apply ourselves with the ball like we did was a great effort, and in that second innings to have them effectively 16-4 gave us a really good chance to win that Test match” concluded the England gloveman.