Moeen feels no pressure

Of the England cricketers to come to Bangladesh at the end of September, spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali will probably play one of the most crucial roles during the three-ODI and two-Test tour in October. 

Being the most experienced spinner in England's camp, he will have a big role to play both in Bangladesh and during the tour of India that follows soon after. Historically England sides have not had the best of times in the spin-friendly subcontinent wickets, so the pressure will be on England's spinners to deliver.

However, Moeen is not feeling much pressure. He told Press Association Sport: 'With the conditions probably more suited to my game, I feel like I will have a big role to play at some stage and I'm hoping I can play a big part in us winning both series.

“I think I'll be in the game more with it being in the subcontinent and spin is probably the biggest threat. But I don't feel any pressure at all. There's always pressure on you playing in international cricket.

“You've just got to deal with it as best as you can. I've had some ups and downs with the ball, but I feel like it's made me a better bowler each time.”

He opens the batting in ODIs, but his recent role with the willow in Tests is to shore up the lower order at number eight. His fine form this summer -- which yielded centuries against Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- may yet result in a promotion. 

“It's an option, I think. I'm sure the selectors and the coach and the captain are probably thinking about it, but, like I've always said, wherever they ask me to bat, I'll bat there,” he said.

England's winter tour starts with the ODI series against Bangladesh, the team that dumped them out of the 2015 World Cup. Moeen, a part of a team that has since undergone a dramatic transformation into an aggressive and successful outfit, remembers that result.

“We are very wary of Bangladesh. They beat us in Australia, we know they can play, but we're a completely different side now.

“It's different now playing in a different continent, but we feel like we're a side that's getting better and we can play this kind of cricket anywhere we go, so we're very excited.”