Birmingham Phoenix captain Moeen Ali has revealed that he seriously considered bringing in recently retired England legend James Anderson for The Hundred 2024 if one of his frontline seamers had been sidelined due to injury.

The 41-year-old Anderson, who retired from all forms of cricket following England's recent series against the West Indies, last played a T20 match a decade ago. However, Moeen believed that Anderson's experience and skill in swinging conditions would have made him an invaluable asset in this year’s competition.

Moeen's Phoenix side has relied heavily on its overseas-heavy bowling unit, featuring the likes of Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Sean Abbott, and Chris Wood. Their consistent performances have been a key factor in Phoenix reaching the Eliminator, where they will face Southern Brave at the Oval on Saturday.

"The way the ball has been swinging this year, it's why we got Tim Southee," Moeen explained. "You want that Test bowler who can hit a length and swing the ball. If we had an injury, I would honestly have tried to call up Jimmy Anderson because he would have been awesome in these conditions. He would be amazing in this format, especially with the way the balls are swinging."

Despite Anderson's lack of recent T20 experience, Moeen was confident that his former England teammate could still make an impact. "Who is better than him when it’s swinging?" he said. "We had Woody [Chris Wood] to cover him, but if one of our bowlers went down, I would've tried to get Jimmy to play. His experience is invaluable."

The Phoenix secured their spot in the Eliminator with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals in a rain-affected match at Edgbaston. The match was reduced to just 30 balls due to the weather, with the Originals managing only 41 runs. Phoenix chased it down with ease, thanks to contributions from Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, and Moeen Ali, who finished the match with a stylish six.

Looking ahead to the crucial match against Southern Brave, Moeen expressed confidence in his team’s balance and form. "We've been playing outstanding cricket. We lost to two of the top sides, but we’ve got a good balanced side, and the guys are playing well. It would be nice to beat Brave next game. They’re a very good team, but I think we have what it takes."