ENGLAND’S assistant coach Paul Farbrace hinted at the weekend that Moeen Ali could be in line for a promotion to open the batting – a position he occupied with success before Trevor Bayliss took over as coach last year – in the first ODI against Bangladesh, with Alex Hales back home with security concerns.
But Moeen scored 70 from number seven – holing out trying to finish the game with a six – in a partnership of 139 with captain Jos Buttler to ensure victory over a BCB XI in England’s only warm-up, and insists he is more than happy down the order where he has scored the bulk of his runs at international level.
James Vince took Hales’ spot at the top and made an attractive 48, while Ben Duckett – who is set to make his ODI debut today – looked at ease before he attempted a reverse-sweep; his bat flying out of his hand and he was bowled.
“When I came in, I knew batting at seven is a very important role, and I have accepted that now,” said Moeen.
“I want to be one of the best No. 7s around, and finish games off for England and have that role which I haven’t had before. It takes time and I’ve got my head around it now.
“I feel mentally in a good place with it. I’ve changed my technique a bit, and that has helped. Being a batter before, I lost the confidence and mental side of my batting and last winter, I started to feel like I was finding it back. It makes me hungrier to score runs.
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