CROC IT TO ’EM Moeen is determined to savage Australia’s pace bowling attack

MOEEN ALI understandably recoiled as a giant crocodile snapped up at the chicken he was holding.

But he knows there can be no more backward steps en route to the Ashes.

Moeen’s return to action this week in the final warm-up game must coincide with a step up in standards and intensity in order for England to be ready.

And that is the verdict of the allrounder himself, who has been able to watch from the sidelines and build up training more gradually because of a side injury he is now over.

Moeen was always going to be vital to England’s Ashes chances before Ben Stokes was suspended.

Now he is essential, and after feeding crocs and cuddling koalas (below) on a day off in Townsville, it is time for England to get serious with bat and ball and take apart a Cricket Australia XI even weaker than in the previous games.

“I think with this being the last warm-up, the training we do around the game and during the game, we’re definitely going to have to step it up as much as we can,” said Moeen.

“We need to put ourselves under more pressure as batters, bowlers, fielders to make sure we’re ready for that first Test match at the Gabba.”

Moeen is determined to cope with the raw pace he is going to have to deal with from Australia.

Using special composite balls and a watered tray so they zip off even quicker, he has been fending off short deliveries from coach Paul Collingwood to ensure he will not be surprised by anything he faces in Brisbane.

“They will definitely come after me,” he added. “It’s not anything new really. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been practising everything as much as I can. I go over the top with it and then hopefully it will be a lot easier after that.

“I’ve been trying to exaggerate the pace with the ball – it sharpens you up. The balls I bring with me, they’re slightly different. They skim off and I’ve been hit loads of times but the more I do it the better I’m feeling.” This will be Moeen’s first taste of cricket in Australia even though he has played 44 Tests and was a part of the 2015 Asheswinning side.

He said: “As a batter I didn’t do that bad in that series but I feel I’m a much better player than I was then.”