MALINGA WON’T MUG ME AGAIN

Ali ready for Sling shot

Umpires: TV:

MOEEN ALI is out for revenge against dangerman Lasith Malinga after admitting he was ‘done like a kipper’ in the second ODI.

And he wasn’t alone either as Malinga ‘The Slinga’ took 5-44 with a mixture of fast-swinging yorkers and mesmerising slower balls to con England’s batsmen.

Moeen was among those who had their pockets picked by the slower ball.

The veteran paceman, 35, has been pulling the same trick for more than 14 years and it still works.

But Moeen, out for a first-ball duck in the win in Dambulla, plans to make sure he is only mugged once in this series.

He said: “He did me like an absolute kipper. I was walking off thinking he has done me there.

“I thought he bowled really well and he is their dangerman. It is a bit of lack of batting out in the middle but he did bowl

from DEAN WILSON in Kandy really well as well. There is nothing you can really do to prepare for his style of bowling, it is more of a mental thing.

“As a team we will get together and talk about how we negate him a bit more.

Smarter

“He is the threat and we have to be a bit smarter with the way we play against him. We could attack the other guys more.

“If he does not bowl well we have to score off him as well. He is going to be their best bowler.”

Back in 2007 at the World Cup, Ravi Bopara came within a whisker of taking England over the line against Sri Lanka looking to deflect Malinga and use his pace.

But all-rounder Moeen has other ideas ahead of the day-night clash in Kandy that has been overshadowed by the corruption charges against Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya.

He said: “He gets his yorkers in and has a brilliant slower ball.

“It is maybe about playing straight and hitting him down the ground. The guys will talk about different options.

“His action being unique makes it not as easy to see.”

England – who lead the series 1-0 with three ODIs to play – are set to recall Tom Curran to their side to replace the injured Liam Dawson.