Moeen Ali is braced for a short, sharp shock when he faces Australia’s Mitchell Johnson in England’s opening game of the World Cup at the MCG on Saturday.
The bouncer has been the one weakness opposition teams have exploited in Ali’s technique during an impressive first year in international cricket.
India were the first to pinpoint it, using the short ball to dismiss the 27-year-old three times in five Tests last summer. Johnson then followed suit in the Tri-Series final in Perth earlier this month, flummoxing Ali with a rising delivery he could only fend to Aaron Finch at slip.
That came midway through a devastating three-wicket spell from Australia’s pace talisman, who was playing his first match for five weeks following injury.
Now Ali can expect more of the same from Johnson, England’s executioner-in-chief during the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash, when he opens the batting alongside Ian Bell in front of a partisan Melbourne crowd.
“There’s been times when I’ve been bounced out, especially against India when I didn’t play the short ball very well,” said Ali. “But against Australia in the Tri-Series I’ve felt like I’ve seen the ball well.
“Maybe because of the extra pace – there’s something different about facing Australia. I just felt that was a good ball from Johnson [in Perth]. I didn’t feel like it was too quick, it was just right on the money. Before that I was playing him quite well so I’m not too worried about the short ball. I’ve been working quite hard on it so I feel like I’m ready to play against Australia on Saturday.”
Perth was the first time Ali had faced Johnson, who took 37 Ashes wickets. Yet he felt more threatened by another Mitchell in Australia’s ranks – Starc – and even suggested he found Steve Harmison, the former England fast bowler, quicker.
“Yes, the other day was the first time I faced him,” said Ali of Johnson. “It was nice. I found Mitchell Starc quicker – maybe because it was Johnson’s first game back. Even though I got a good ball I found Starc harder.
“The fastest I’ve ever faced I think is Steve Harmison in 2006 or 2007 – that was quick. Obviously that was Johnson’s first game back so I don’t think he was 100%.”
Yet pace is not Ali’s biggest worry; it is pace allied with bounce that remains his achilles heel.
In cricket, there can be few harder or more emotive labels to shake off than that of a batsman who is vulnerable to the short ball. It preys on their self-worth and machismo. However, Ali is not concerned about being a marked man. “I’ve felt it,” he said. “In Sri Lanka before Christmas they kept bouncing me and stuff. Against India last summer I wasn’t sure whether to take it on. I changed my style of play, which was probably the biggest mistake I made.
“For me it’s about being 100% committed to the shot. If I’m 100%, most of the time I’ll get it. It’s when I have a little bit of doubt I don’t play as well. So it’s about being 100% every ball and being committed to playing that way.
“But I’ve never had an issue [with the short ball] before, it’s just international cricket is different, better quality. It’s not something I worry about. I feel like I’m getting better at it and as long as I keep working hard at it I’ll be alright.”
What is it, though, about facing Johnson, that is so special? “I looked at a lot of his balls, a lot were cross seam,” said Ali. “They always do something a bit more. He’s obviously a top-quality bowler, he’s not just pace, he’s quality as well. When I faced him that first over he was back he was tough but on that day Mitchell Starc was quicker.”
So while Ali is confident he will not be caught short by Johnson, perhaps England would do well to remember that Australia are by no means a one-man team.
