'Fit for Ashes' Moeen Ali plays with a crocodile

Is it finally the start of good times for England? After Jake Ball, their all-rounder Moeen Ali is also fit for the Ashes, which commences on November 23 at The Gabba in Brisbane. The all-rounder was nursing a slight strain, for which he had to sit out of the two warm-up games played in Perth and Adelaide, but is finally fit for the series.

However, he is enjoying his time-off in Australia. During a visit to a wildlife park in Queensland, the Birmingham man had a good time ‘playing’ with a crocodile. In a video released by Test Match Special, the owner of 128 Test wickets is seen feeding the “Bully the Townsville crocodile”.

Alongside Moeen, former English skipper Alastair Cook also indulged in feeding the 4.5 metre long, 500 kilagrams’ beast at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville.

WATCH: Here’s @MoeenAli feeding Bully the crocodile in Townsville.

Not scared at all! ? pic.twitter.com/LDDrovc0tG

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 13, 2017

Moeen to play in the last warm-up game

Before the actual series starts, it is expected that the man who has scored over 2000 runs in Test cricket will feature in England’s last warm-up game, which will be against Cricket Australia XI in Townsville. “I am good. It’s just a slight strain on my side from throwing,” Moeen said to the reporters, as per reports in Reuters.

“It was a bit frustrating but also not a bad thing, you get a lot more work done. I feel like I am ready to play and I can’t wait to spend time in the field. We have got four days of cricket ahead. I can get a bit of game time in my system and then be ready to play, hopefully, at the Gabba,” he further added.

The long losing streak in Brisbane

Brisbane is certainly not a venue which the English cricketers are a fan of since they haven’t won in the venue for the last 31 years. When the Worcestershire man was asked about this, he said: “I’ve heard a lot about Brisbane. 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.”