Moeen Ali feels that he has really come back to England after a brilliant cameo against South Africa in the second T20I.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali was out of international cricket since the Ashes series. He was dropped from Tests due to bad form and he decided to take a break from limited-overs cricket as well. He has returned to white-ball cricket for England since the South Africa tour and made an important contribution to the side’s victory in the second T20I.
Ali came in at No. 7 and scored a quickfire 39 off just 11 balls that included 3 boundaries and 4 sixes. The game went right down to the wire and England managed to win it. Ali felt good after his performance and believed that he really came back. He also knows that his place in the side is not fixed and the opportunities he gets should be capitalized on and not be taken for granted.
“It was amazing to contribute and finally feel like I am back for England. I will not take it for granted,” he said on a Test Match Special podcast.
Moeen Ali wants to get feeling of making debut again for England after deciding to skip SA tour
However, he is not ready yet to play Test cricket as he will have to find the hunger for it once again. He wants to be back in the Test squad whenever he really wants to and that will not be easy. He will have to fight for his spot.
Ali said, “I am going to give myself a bit more time. I want to make sure when I come back I am ready and fresh. I want to keep enjoying my cricket and get that hunger back because I feel I lost that completely.”
“I had no interest in my batting and bowling and when you are in that situation there is no point playing. I definitely feel like I am getting there and not far [away]. I want to give myself extra time and know when I come back I will have to fight for my place,” he added.
England will play five Tests against India in India, which will be the last Test series of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2019-21. The all-rounder definitely wants to be a part of that England squad playing in India.
“I do want to be part of that (India) for sure. I still have huge ambitions for Test cricket. It is still the best form of the game and the hardest. I want to prove to myself and to other people that I am not a bad Test player,” the 32-year-old said.
(Inputs from BBC)
