Monday 31 August 2015 19:42, UK
Moeen Ali's batting flair fits perfectly into new England's attacking mind-set in limited overs cricket, says Nasser Hussain.
The all-rounder struck an unbeaten 72, adding 135 in just 12.2 overs with Eoin Morgan (74), to pave the way for England's five-run win over Australia in the only T20 international, at Cardiff.
The tourists – set a target of 183 – reached 177-8 in reply on the back of Steve Smith's magnificent 90 but the man of the match award went to Moeen Ali, who also picked up the key wicket of Glenn Maxwell (44 off 32 balls).
"I'm pleased for Mo because he's actually played quite an unselfish role for England this summer," reflected former England captain Hussain.
"You see him bat at number eight, and occasionally number nine because of the nightwatchman, for England in Test matches and you think he's wasted down there batting with the tail.
"He's too good a player for that and when you see him batting like this, you realise that he is a genuine batsman.
"He now plays all three forms of the game; he's like Ben Stokes – he will just get better and better.
"He'll occasionally do the silly thing – he might chip the ball up in the air in the first over or whatever – but he typifies and fits into exactly what the coach and the captain want; someone to go out there and play with flair. That is certainly Moeen Ali – he's got a lot of flair."
Momentum
Trevor Bayliss was appointed as head coach, in part, for his limited-overs expertise – England's record in the shorter forms of the game being rather underwhelming until this summer's 3-2 ODI victory over New Zealand.
Hussain said it's important the team builds on their recent successes with the ICC World T20 only a matter of months away in March next year.
"England will be pleased that they won again to keep that feel-good momentum going.
"Eoin Morgan's fine form continues – he passes that on through the side. His attitude is 'even if we lose early wickets, I'll show you and go out there and keep smacking it.
"We've got cricketers under pressure like Ben Stokes that will deliver. We will mess up in periods of the game and we might make the odd error, like sending Sam Billings in which didn't quite work, and we'll learn from that and move on.
"The most important thing was to keep winning; this is not a side that has been winning for two or three years; it's a team that has started to win recently.
"To win close games gives you a lot more confidence going into close games that they will surely have down the line somewhere."
Genius
Australia skipper Smith was left to rue an inconsistent bowling display and the loss of Maxwell, just when the tourists appeared to be on track to knock off the runs.
Hussain said the 26-year-old could have done little more to turn the tide in his side's favour.
"Some of his shots today were just pure genius. On commentary you think 'how did he do that?'
"He's another modern cricketer – a player who can play any form of the game.
"The boundary isn't big enough for him. If a spinner comes on he's one of these lads who thinks 'I'm going to hit it for six' with his fast hands.
"I thought England bowled a little too short at him at times but you can see why because if you pitch it up you go the distance as well.
"Sometimes you can't bowl to him and England needed to get him out to win the game."
Watch the first one-day international between England and Australia live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Thursday.
