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He was known for his positivity when becoming one of England’s best spinners and Graeme Swann was on the front foot again on Wednesday when delivering his verdict on their latest huge call.

‘I think it makes us stronger,’ said Swann on the sudden elevation of Moeen Ali from Test retirement to frontline Ashes spinner. ‘That’s hard on Jack Leach because he was doing a good job but this move extends the batting and now we’ve got an off-spinner bowling at all those Australian lefties. I’m glad to see him back. Mo’s still a brilliant talent.’

It is a back injury to Leach, ever-present in England’s Test transformation under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, that has suddenly and unexpectedly re-opened the door to an off-spinning all-rounder who, at 35, had previously told the coach ‘sorry, I’m done.’

But Swann, back at Lord’s, has no doubts England have done the right thing in turning to a man who has not played a red-ball match in two years after putting all his efforts into white-ball cricket with his country and in the franchise world.

‘The very fact Baz and Stokesey are in charge makes this easy for Mo to come back,’ said the three-times Ashes winner. ‘They’ve said ‘you come in and all your positive attributes are what we’re after’.