Cricket: Moeen Ali confident Sri Lanka tour will benefit World Cup build-up
Wednesday 12 November 2014 14:26, UK
England all-rounder Moeen Ali believes the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka will benefit the team ahead of next year's World Cup.
Conditions will be very different to those encountered in Australia and New Zealand next spring but Moeen insists any game-time against top-class opposition can only be of benefit to the tourists.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, the Worcestershire player said: "If we beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka then we can take a lot of confidence from that.
"And I think playing one-day cricket before the Australia and India series, and the World Cup, then we have a lot of one-day cricket until the start of the tournament and I think no matter where you play, or who you are playing against, the build-up to a major event is going to benefit us."
But Moeen warned a change of mindset may be required among the travelling party if they are to prove successful on their winter tour, and, ultimately, the 2015 World Cup.
Whoever we play against in the build-up to a major event is going to benefit us.
“It’s going to take a bit of a mindset change," he said. "We have got to be a lot more fearless and braver and also smarter.
Struggled
“We’ve obviously always tried our best but we have struggled a little bit. With this break we have just had we have got together a few times and it’s been very beneficial for all of us.
“It’s going to take a lot, don’t get me wrong, so we need to be smart with our batting, bowling and fielding. Hopefully you will see that in Sri Lanka.”
England play seven one-day internationals in Sri Lanka between November 21 and December 16 and a Tri-Series against Australia and India from January 7 to February 1 before opening up their World Cup campaign with a group match against Australia in Melbourne on February 14.
