Buoyed by a winning winter in Sri Lanka, Moeen Ali is relishing a more senior role in a successful England side.
A constant presence in the white-ball format under Eoin Morgan in recent years, Ali’s role in the Test arena has been less defined. Last winter it resulted in him dropping out of the side.
However, having recaptured his potency with the ball during the summer series against India, the 31-year-old was given the role of ‘spinners’ captain’ in Sri Lanka - and he repaid Joe Root’s faith with 18 wickets at 24.5.
“We had a plan that I was the spinners' captain. If somebody had not been in the side, then they could go to me first and I would then go to Rooty,” said Ali.
“We knew the spinners would bowl the most overs, so the last thing you want to do is leave them to it - or even have someone going up to them and giving them too much advice.
“The way we are as people, Leach (Jack), Rash (Adil Rashid) and myself decided from the start it was not about who was going to take the most wickets.
“We were going to take them all together and not worry what people say from the outside.
“It took the pressure off. When we were in India (in 2016) it was a bit more individual. It was so different to Sri Lanka.
“When you give players a bit more responsibility it gives them a voice. We can speak up a bit more.
“If we have something to say, say it. If you are wrong it doesn’t matter, just say it. That is important for the new guys coming.”
Unsurprisingly on the back of such a historic triumph, Ali was deeply impressed with Root’s leadership during the recent tour.
“There is more to captaincy than field placings. Anyone can do that.
“But it was the way he handled pressure in tight situations. The best thing was it was his idea to have that spin captain.
“He said we were going to be different to what we have done before and that was a brave, big step going forward.”
With James Anderson and Stuart Broad taking a rare back seat during the 3-0 series triumph on Sri Lankan soil, it was left to the spinners to take-on the bulk of the work, led by Ali.
The trio shared 48 wickets – and it’s given them all confidence.
“We have to do things differently when we go abroad,” said Ali.
“We have to do things differently. For example, Broady and Jimmy don’t have to play (every game) or we pick two or three spinners.
“They are legends and greats who have the most wickets and stuff, but only one of them could play (in Sri Lanka).
“That was big for the team going forward because now we are not relying just on those two guys in that part of the world.
“It was our time to step up. It changed the mindset of the team in that no-one is un-droppable and I think that was great.
“I see myself as someone who has got better, more consistent but still has bad spells. Importantly, I feel I can get the best in the world out now.
“I try and stay under the radar but when the big wickets come, deep down there is a lot of pride in the fact that it is not justJimmy and Broady who can get the best players out, I can do it too.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Ali in Sri Lanka though. He started the series as England’s number three – and has batted every position in the order from one to nine.
It’s left the all-rounder is craving a more settled role.
“I have not settled as a batter,” he said.
“It has not been easy because as soon as you play well you are pushed up the order, you have a couple of chances and you are back down which is different and difficult.
"I think it's difficult to be consistent. I never had that match practice at three. The openers opened in the practice games, Joe Root batted four, I batted five or six.
“That can be quite frustrating because you haven't been that three in the first two practice games and then you're in the Test match and batting at three.
"It can be (frustrating), but the team was probably different to how they had it in the back of their heads at the start of the tour.
“We had to try and adapt to that and I tried. It obviously didn't work out, but with the ball it was great."
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England do battle with Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Friday 17 May in the fourth Royal London One-Day International. Secure your seats here...