Australians like to talk a lot: Moeen Ali

England all-rounder Moeen Ali is fit to play the final practice match on the Ashes tour, starting on Wednesday.The first Test match begins on 23rd November at the Gabba, Brisbane. The defending champions are without their match-winning all-rounder Ben Stokes, England are counting on the positives, as they will be facing a strong Australian line-up.

This is the first Ashes series for the 30-year-old cricketer and he says that he is ready for the hostile hosts and their volleys. He even went on to say that Australians like to talk a lot. And it is not something which he hasn’t experienced before.

You have to focus on the game” Moeen Ali

“Australians like to talk a lot, big themselves up,” he said. “That’s part of the game. It’s not something that I haven’t had before.” I’ve heard a lot about Brisbane,” said Moeen. “It’s something you have to block out. You have to focus on your game and the situation that the team is in. I’m prepared the best I can. When you’re out there you rely on your instincts. I know it will be tough, but I’ve always backed my ability.”

On the short layoff, Moeen said that he got enough time to work on his game, which is not always possible when he is playing. “I’ve had more time to work on my game,” he said. “Sometimes when you’re playing you don’t get the chance to focus on yourself. Another benefit of not playing those two games is that it makes you hungrier to get out there and be with the guys. I can’t wait to put my whites on and start performing.”

With the former vice-captain out of sight, Moeen said that he ready to play one notch up at 6 but firstly, he will have to pile up more runs at his current spot. “With the Stokesy situation I’ve probably got to go up the order by one, but my aim as a cricketer is to get up the order as high as I can, maybe push into a role at five or six. Obviously, that’s a bit further ahead. Firstly I have to do the job at number seven.”