England’s Ali tears into ‘rude’ Aussies

ENGLAND all-rounder Moeen Ali has claimed the Australian cricket team under former skipper Steve Smith was rude and lacked respect. The 31-year-old’s struggles with bat and ball on the Ashes tour last year were a major reason for England’s 4-0 defeat and led to him being dropped for the first time in his career at the conclusion of the series. Regarded as one of the more reserved and polite players in the England side, Ali admits the pressure of a first overseas Ashes series got to him, but said the abuse dished out to him on the field took him by surprise. “They are the only team I’ve played against my whole life that I’ve actually disliked,” Ali told the UK’s Times newspaper. “Not because it’s Australia and they are the old enemy but because of the way they carry on and [their] disrespect of people and players.” Ali, who played a major role in England’s 4-1 series win over India after being recalled to the side, also feels no sympathy for banned trio David Warner, Smith and Cameron Bancroft. “It’s difficult to feel sorry for them,” he said. “The first game I ever played against them, in Sydney, just before the 2015 World Cup, they were not just going hard at you, they were almost abusing you. “That was the first time it hit me. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but the more I played against them they were just as bad, the Ashes here [in 2015] they were worse actually … not intimidating, just rude.” Ali admits he struggled against Nathan Lyon during the Ashes and said the hostile environment created by the hosts paid off. “I found it very difficult in Australia to switch off,” he said. “It was my first Ashes tour and I was desperate to do well. “Then [Nathan] Lyon kept getting me out. I found that very hard to deal with.”