UNLESS it's a sensationalist article about what causes cancer, illegal immigrants or political scandal in certain over the top publications, very little writing has the ability to shock these days.

That was until I read a bizarre and inflammatory piece by Michael Henderson of the Telegraph about Worcestershire batsman and recent England Test debutant Moeen Ali.

The columnist seems to have taken exception to Moeen declaring his pride in inspiring other people of the Muslim faith as well as the obvious honour of representing his country at the highest level.

Henderson seemed intent on lambasting Moeen for daring to speak about his faith within the confines of sport and the wider impact him receiving a cap and even inspiring other Muslim's to want to follow in his footsteps.

Apparently Moeen's seemingly genuine comments mean we are "drifting into dangerous waters".

Presumably this is because we live in a normally tolerant and open minded society which has been multicultural for decades, exactly the sort of country you would want a youngster to grow up in.

Henderson even points to the various people of different nationalities and faiths that have turned out for the England cricket team, somewhat shooting his argument in the foot.

It would have been strange and wholly inappropriate for the South African-born Kevin Pietersen to say he was taking to the field for the country at Africa's southern tip.

Henderson writes of tolerance while showing none and missing the point completely.

He even suggests the England coach Peter Moores should have a quiet word with Moeen if he doesn't understand he has been chosen for his cricketing ability and not his faith.

What a load of nonsense - I'm sure Moeen appreciates that but if he wants to be an ambassador for Muslims then that should be his prerogative and not an issue of controversy.

Moeen happens to good enough to play international cricket as much as he happens to be a Muslim - why is there an issue with that?

He has hardly made an extreme statement and I'm sure he isn't the first sportsman to have a faith and he won't be the last.

Henderson's opening gambit was "national identity is not always easy to define".

He would have been better served to have started and finished with those eight words because Britain and England has been a melting pot of nationalities and cultures throughout time, with various influences forming a so-called national identity.

Perhaps he was jumping on education secretary Michael Gove's bandwagon to teach British values in every school and somehow took the wrong turn and ended up in a narrow-minded, dead-end alley.

Hopefully 'the beard that's feared', as he is affectionately known at New Road, will continue to let his cricket do the talking as well as proudly representing his country and faith without being subject to such aimless criticism.