Tuesday 24 April 2018 11:12, UK
Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali has outlined his determination to win an England call-up after earning last season's FTI Most Valuable Player Award.
The 26-year-old overhauled Samit Patel on the penultimate day of the County Championship season, scoring 44 in the second innings against Northamptonshire and taking 6-77 with the ball.
His performance landed him the award and a cheque for £10,000, and his efforts over the season earned him a place in the England Performance Programme squad this winter.
Moeen now hopes to emulate the likes of Ben Stokes, Boyd Rankin and Gary Ballance and force his way into the selectors' plans for the senior England side.
Asked if he was inspired by the trio's inclusion in the Ashes squad, Moeen said: "Yes, definitely. It seems that you have to go through the whole development thing first and then they pick you.
"I think all the new lads who are playing at the moment have been on that trip in the last couple of years.
"Being in the system since I was a kid, you know how it works a bit more and
now that I am a bit more mature in my game and off the field, it hopefully will help me settle in well."
I don't just consider myself as a batter, I think I am a batting all-rounder, really, and my bowling is much better than people actually think.
England have a wealth of all-rounders to choose from, with Stokes, Rankin and Ballance hoping to challenge Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow for a place, and Moeen is aware that the competition is intense.
He said: "I definitely agree with that. There are so many good batters and bowlers and all-rounders out there that it is tough. But they all get their chance at some stage and you are probably not as far as you think most of the time.
"Hopefully if I can get into the mix as well now, it would be nice."
Moeen scored an impressive 2,016 runs and claimed 52 wickets in all competitions over the summer, and he believes it will be his off-spin that will make or break his England ambitions.
He added: "I don't just consider myself as a batter, I think I am a batting all-rounder, really, and my bowling is much better than people actually think.
"It's another way to get into the side and keep yourself busy when you are fielding and looking forward to bowling. Sometimes if you are competing as a batter, the bowling might just give you that extra bit."
