Moeen Ali who played an important role in Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning Indian Premier League campaign just a week ago is unable to find clarity in his role in the destructive and scary Eglish batting lineup.
"I absolutely loved it," he said. "Obviously when you win a competition like the IPL it's amazing and with the role, I was given, I felt like I was quite important to the team,” Moeen was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
While he batted at number three and later four for CSK in IPL, the force of the English batters in Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler alongside Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone doesn’t leave any space for him in the top five and number six is anyway reserved for skipper Eoin Morgan.
But with the absence of both Sam Curran and Ben Stokes, Ali could bat at seven and play the finishing role which he did in the warm-up match against India, scoring 43 off 20 balls.
“My role could change but the good thing is I feel like I could play any type of role. If a chance does come, I can bat No. 6 or 7 [or] I can bat up the order, so I'm just trying to get myself ready and be in a good frame of mind. Whatever role I'm given, I'm hopefully going to do well in,” the 34-year-old, who just bid adieu to Test cricket ahead of the Ashes 2021, said.
It was scary to see Liam Livingstone getting injured after dropping a sitter in the deep during the warm-up match. He seemed to have hurt his finger, but Moeen assured that his Birmingham Phoenix teammate was all fine and would be ready ahead of the start of the World Cup.
"I think he's alright. I think it's just bruising on the back of the hand but I think he'll be fine. Obviously, it was a bit of a scare at the time but he said it was fine, so hopefully, he's all good,” said Moeen.
England eventually lost the warm-up game against India by seven wickets and will have another warm-up match against New Zealand before they finally take against West Indies in the rematch of the 2016 T20 World Cup final rematch.