England's Rotation Plan Under Fire As Moeen Leaves India Tour

England's controversial rotation policy is in the spotlight again after it was announced Moeen Ali would leave the tour of India following Tuesday's crushing 317-run loss in the second Test at

"The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has had a stance for a number of years of permitting players to play in IPL," said national selector Ed Smith in November after Stokes, Archer, and Sam Curran were omitted from the one-day international leg of the South Africa tour. 

"That has coincided with England's very good form in white-ball cricket, their World Cup success and also now their very strong T20 side."

Although the suspicion remains rotation won't apply if it impedes their chances of winning the Ashes against oldest foes Australia, former England captain David Gower said earlier this month a Test campaign with India was now as a "historic series as any". 

"You want the best players to be available for as much of it as possible," added Gower, England's victorious skipper on their 1984/85 tour of India.

It was a point endorsed by Root, but he also said Tuesday: "In these times, with Covid, with bubble life, with the amount of cricket we've got and trying to factor it all in together, it is tough.

"We just have to make sure that we get the best out of the players that are here."