Moeen Ali insists he is ready to face up to his Ashes tormentor Nathan Lyon in England‘s one-day series against Australia.
Off-spinner Lyon dismissed Moeen seven times across Australia’s 4-0 Ashes series win, but now the Worcestershire star believes he can put those troubles behind him.
England will launch their five-match 50-over series against Australia at The Oval on Wednesday, with Moeen intent on letting nothing divert focus from his natural batting approach.
“He’s bowled really well and got me out a few times,” said Moeen of Lyon. “But you don’t get medals for getting guys out all the time. Who cares? I’m just moving on.
“When we played in the Ashes in England, he never got me out once and nobody said anything. You just get on with it.”
Lyon has revealed his stint at Moeen’s county Worcestershire allowed him to gain some important batting intelligence on the England man.
Moeen himself believes Lyon could have gained the same insight from any basic analysis of his batting traits – remaining intent on losing no sleep over the issue.
“If you look at a few of my dismissals, you’d probably know that anyway,” said Moeen.
“It doesn’t take Einstein to work that out. You don’t have to be that clever to work that out. Just get on with it.
“He bowled really well at me, I found him difficult in Australia but one-day cricket is different. I’m in a different mindset at the moment to what I was then.”
Ali is happy with his batting rhythm at the moment
Moeen’s quick-fire 46 was not enough to stop England’s shock six-run defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday.
The 30-year-old miscued an attempt at a big hit for his dismissal at the weekend, but remained adamant he has nothing he needs to change in his technique, or mental preparation.
“It’s all right when you hit them for six, great shot; I’d hit two or three for six,” said Moeen.
“I’m going to stay true to myself and not worry about what people say. There is a lot of negativity around.
“Scotland played really well, we couldn’t stop them from scoring runs and they made it really hard for us and they deserved to win.
“When they are going for six and you’re playing well, everyone is trying to big you up. Mishit one, get out, all the negative people come out.
“From a personal point, I’m going to keep enjoying how I bat, I feel like I’ve found a bit of rhythm.
“Obviously, in an ideal world, you want to knock them off and win the game. The ball was there to hit and I just mishit it.”
