Moeen not fazed by the pressure of being a star

New record-breaker Moeen Ali insists he can handle the pressure that comes with his enhanced reputation as a match-winning all-rounder.

The spinner became the first England Test cricketer to take 25 wickets and top 250 runs in any fourmatch series, as England saw off South Africa 3-1.

The 30-year-old’s prerequisite term of engagement remains that he is referred to as a ‘batsman who bowls a bit’ – despite a 10-wicket match haul in the series opener at Lord’s, then a hat-trick to finish proceedings at The Oval and a mere two in two to bring a prompt conclusion to the campaign in the hosts’ 177-run victory at Old Trafford.

“I feel that if it is spinning it is my job in the team to take wickets,” said the 30-year-old (pictured).

“If that means trying to bowl a team out in the fourth innings, that’s my job.

“I see it more like that, not really a pressure thing.”

Hissecond-innings 5-69 in Manchester is a handy case in point. “I didn’t have a wicket for a while, but I stayed patient,” he said.

“In the past, I probably would have panicked a bit and tried to change. (But) I changed my field slightly, and that got us a wicket.”

Moeen credits former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq as one of the architects of his improvement – and with his own confidence in his all-round talents at an all-time high, he is happy to take on the challenge from captain Joe Root to prove his success against South Africa can herald many more.

“I hope so,” he said. “I feel a lot more confident in my ability.

“It’s been a great series with the ball in terms of my confidence, just taking the wickets and making a difference.

“I feel like it was building.

“Before, I just bowled, didn’t really think too much. I let the captain set the field. I’d say I set the field a lot more throughout this series.”