England all-rounder Moeen Ali acknowledged on Tuesday (December 4) that moving around in the batting order throughout the Test series in Sri Lanka was frustrating for him, as it didn’t work out and he failed to leave an impression with the willow in the series there.

In the three-match Test series, Moeen was impressive with the ball, finished with 18 wickets, but wasn't consistent with the bat in hand, managing only 0,3, 10, 10, 33 and 22 scores against Sri Lanka.

He batted at No. 3 in the opening Test in Galle before being dropped down the order at No. 6 or 7 for the remaining two Test matches against Sri Lanka.

Moeen Ali told Sky Sports Cricket on Tuesday, “Yes, I wasn't quite sure actually because in the warm-up games I batted seven and nine and then I was told I was going to bat at three. Then after one game, I went down to six and seven. I've had that before so it's not new to me. It can be frustrating but when you think about the side and what the team needs at the time then you kind of get over it and try to move on and try to do the best you can as a cricketer for England.”

The 31-year-old left-hander continued, “I think it's difficult to be consistent. I never had that match practice at three. The openers opened in the practice games, Joe Root batted four, I batted five or six and that can be quite frustrating because you haven't been that three in the first two practice games and then you're in the Test match and batting at three.”

The off-spinner signed off by saying, “It can be (frustrating) but the team was probably different to how they had it in the back of their heads at the start of the tour. We had to try and adapt to that as a team and I tried but it obviously didn't work out, but with the ball it was great.”

(With Sky Sports Cricket Inputs)