Campaign starts now says Moeen
MOEEN ALI believes England can now kick- start their World Cup campaign – because Australia are out of the way.
And if they needed a boost, it arrived in the form of Scotland doing their best to rattle New Zealand here yesterday.
The co- hosts are next on England’s agenda when the two nations meet in Wellington on Friday.
It will be New Zealand’s third match of the tournament but England’s second, after the thumping by Australia last weekend.
In three matches in the World Cup warm- up Tri- Series, including the fi nal, and in the opening group match of the World Cup itself in Melbourne last weekend, England have barely laid a glove on Australia.
“Australia have been very tough for us and since we’ve been here they have beaten us every time. They have been too good for us,” said Moeen.
“But whoever plays Australia at the moment are going to fi nd it tough. They are such a good side it is probably good to get that game out of the way. Now we can look to string wins together.”
His reason for England’s stuttering form might be construed by some as tantamount to hoisting the white fl ag. But at least he is not hiding from the facts.
Yet if any extra encouragement is needed against a New Zealand side tipped to go a long way in the competition, it came in Dunedin as Scotland exposed a chink in their armour.
Scotland made a paltry 142 all out, but New Zealand lost seven wickets as they made it home, albeit in only 24.5 overs.
The Black Caps pointed to the fact that they were hurrying to complete the job in the quickest possible time, yet England will seize on it as evidence they are not as bombproof as many would have you believe. Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said: “Chasing out a small total might have been a little bit tricky for them, and it might have changed the way their natural game would usually be. “I think it showed their batters were vulnerable if you are able to keep them under pressure consistently and put the balls in good areas, as any batter is.”
New Zealand do have the same brand of explosive hitters that Australia have, with Brendon McCullum opening and men such as Corey Anderson in the middle. But their bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee are more akin to what England are used to facing at home.
And there is no one to resemble Mitchell Johnson in the Kiwi line- up – which should fi ll them with confidence.
England were invited to an offi cial reception on the waterfront at Wellington where not only were they treated to a ‘ Haka’- style greeting but were feted by several local dignitaries.
It was unfortunate that, after accepting the traditional Maori greeting from a baton- twirling ‘ warrior’ Eoin Morgan was then introduced by the Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade- Brown, as ‘ Eoin Rogers and his England team’. Hopefully he will have reminded plenty of people in this city of his identity and potency by the end of Friday’s match, despite a run of recent form rooted in the doldrums.
Morgan smiled as he looked towards the fl oor and later chatted amiably and posed for a “selfi e” with Ms Wade- Brown.
Moeen said: “He is not showing any signs of being low on confi dence and is still the same Eoin Morgan .
“He is just trying to get everybody going and keep everyone’s heads up.”