Moeen Ali chooses his Fab Four picks, and adds a fifth name

With the legendary era of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson gradually nearing its end, former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has revealed who he believes will carry the torch for the next generation of elite batters.

Speaking on the ‘Beard Before Wicket’ podcast, Moeen offered his take on the new “Fab Four”, a term first coined by New Zealand great Martin Crowe in 2014, and even stretched the list to five names to reflect the depth of emerging talent.

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At the top of Moeen’s list were two of India’s brightest young stars: Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“Shubman Gill makes it look so easy. In this series in England, his technique has really improved. He’s calm, elegant, stylish…a proper player!” Moeen said. He also praised Jaiswal for his aggressive stroke play and temperament, noting that the Indian opener has already shown the kind of mental toughness required at the top level.

Alongside them, Moeen picked England’s Harry Brook, a player he believes has all the ingredients to become one of the game’s leading batters across formats.

“Brook is already making a name for himself. He’s got that fearless mindset and a wide range of shots. He’s definitely in that group,” Moeen said.

For his fourth choice, Moeen looked to the southern hemisphere, selecting New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. The 2023 ODI World Cup breakout star has impressed Moeen not just with performances, but with his all-round ability and adaptability.

“Rachin has the technique and the hunger. He’s versatile and can succeed anywhere. That’s what makes him stand out,” Moeen remarked. Rounding out his list, Moeen added a name that might raise eyebrows, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, a promising England all-rounder yet to register a professional hundred but already earning big praise for his natural flair.

“People talk about the lack of a hundred, but it’s about how he bats,” Moeen explained. “He’s a gifted player, good power, solid technique. The only concern is his fitness. He gets injured quite a bit. But if he stays healthy, he’s got a huge future.”

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While Moeen acknowledged the original Fab Four set an extremely high benchmark, he’s confident that the likes of Gill, Jaiswal, Brook, Ravindra, and Bethell have what it takes to lead the next chapter of world cricket.

“They’re still young, but the signs are there. If they stay grounded and fit, we’re looking at the next generation of greats,” he said.