‘I do not want to spend five months away from my family’

The wicketkeeper-batsman flies out with the England squad on Monday for the T20 World Cup which is being held in the United Arab Emirates

You have said you may not go on the Ashes tour if your family are not able to travel to Australia. How do you feel about that at the moment?

I think we’re just all waiting for more information. Until we know exactly what the tour looks like, although it would be naive not to think that there may be some changes to that in the next few months. If a World Cup and an Ashes meant I had to go four, five months without seeing my family, I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. We don’t know what decisions we’re being asked to make, so hopefully there will be more information as soon as possible.

Everything appears to be stacked against England going into the Ashes series. Do we stand a chance of winning Down Under?

I’ve not been on an Ashes tour but I think to go and win in Australia is the biggest challenge there is. Australia are tough to beat at home but it is possible. On the last Ashes trip we won our one-day series there so you have to take belief from that that they can be beaten. It’s going to be tough but you almost have to use that as a bit of a motivation and take your energy from that backs against the wall and siege mentality, that people aren’t expecting it. You have to go and try to play your best cricket that gives you the best chance of winning.

Was it frustrating not to get the chance to level the Test series against India after the tourists’ Covid outbreak saw the fifth Test cancelled? Yeah, it was a shame that match didn’t go ahead. I thought the series had some fantastic cricket played by both teams. We needed a win to try and draw the series so it was just a shame all-round that the game didn’t go ahead for everyone wanting to watch it and for the players.

What is it like to play in such an exciting series that really captured the imagination?

They’re the series you want to be a part of. Every time you play against India you know you’re up against a brilliant team with fanatical support so that adds a huge element to the games. Five-match series always throw up some brilliant stories and it made a big difference having crowds back at the games.

You missed the fourth Test to be at the birth of your second daughter, Maggie. How difficult is it to balance family life with a gruelling schedule?

It’s a challenge. Certainly, with becoming a dad again your priorities and the way you feel about certain things, they’re going to change,

naturally. It’s down to you as an individual. I know there’s lots of cricket, which is great, and you want to be a part of as much of it as you can but for anyone in any industry I think Covid has made all these situations a bit different, and a bit more difficult.

Do you worry that you’re not going to be able to get back in the Test team when you miss a game like that?

I wanted to be at the birth of my child and I didn’t want to miss that for anything. It clashed with the game at the Oval so I made that decision fully aware that I may have lost my place, but I’d made peace with that and I’m glad I made that decision.

Moeen Ali has just announced his retirement from Test cricket. How big a blow is that for England?

It is a big blow because Moeen has accomplished brilliant things and delivered a lot of match-winning performances. If you asked almost anyone who you want in your dressing room, who is a great man to have in your team, Moeen Ali would be at the top of most people’s lists. So he’ll be a big miss not just with his cricket but for what he brings to the dressing room. I would like to congratulate him on a fantastic Test career and I know there’s many years left of him playing brilliantly for England in white-ball cricket.

We’re speaking at Sixes Cricket Club where you’ve been unveiled as the official ambassador of Booking.com’s sponsorship of the ICC T20 World Cup. How do you rate England’s hopes?

We’ve got a good chance. Our squad is full of match-winners, it’s full of exciting players, it’s full of experience. I’m full of confidence in the squad. There are other brilliant teams, we all know that, and to win it we have to play our best but we have the qualities to win the tournament.

Booking.com is the official accommodation booking partner of the ICC T20 World Cup, taking place from October 17 to November 14