Ramprakash buoyed by Moeen’s approach

England will begin the one-day international series against Sri Lanka with the template for a “wild card” World Cup winter fresh in their minds, courtesy of Moeen Ali.
England's Moeen Ali.England's Moeen Ali.
England's Moeen Ali.

A washout at the P Sara Oval yesterday means Alastair Cook’s team head for the first of seven ODIs here with only 68 overs of competitive cricket under their belts from an opening warm-up victory against Sri Lanka A.

But according to batting coach Mark Ramprakash, it was in Friday’s match that Moeen’s domination of an opening stand with Cook made the “statement” – to himself and team-mates – of how they should approach 50-over cricket.

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In a fixture reduced initially to 43 overs per side by a foretaste of the rain which wrecked England’s second warm-up match against the same opponents, Moeen dispatched the first six legitimate balls he faced for four off the hapless Vishwa Fernando.

Ramprakash interpreted Moeen’s innings as the perfect demonstration of how England must reinvent themselves on the world stage, heartened not just by the Worcestershire all-rounder’s confidence and adventure, but the willingness he senses through the entire squad to follow suit whenever possible.

“He made a real statement there, not just to himself but to the whole group, as to the brand of cricket we want to try to play,” said Ramprakash.

“Obviously, you have to assess conditions as well and adapt to them.

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“But essentially the mind-set for the England one-day group this winter is to go in and try to put the pressure back on the opposition, try to impose ourselves.

“You don’t often see that from an English player, to go out and play with that flair and confidence.

“I’m so pleased he’s done that, it was fantastic to watch.”