MOEEN ALI: Shocks galore mean we can't take any team lightly

MOEEN ALI: Shocks galore mean we can’t take ANY team lightly in our group at the T20 World Cup… we’ll be punished if we’re not at our best

• Jos Buttler came back in for the Australia series and made batting look effortless
• Shock wins by Namibia and Scotland show anyone can beat anyone at World Cup
• Saturday’s opponents Afghanistan have a world-class player in Rashid Khan 

We are ready for the World Cup. We have backed up our performances in Pakistan with superb displays across the squad in Australia, but that will not count for much if we don’t carry that momentum into the tournament.

Yes, the results have been good but what has been great to see is how we’ve played and rotated the squad. Everyone has come in and shown their class.

In previous tournaments we’ve gone in with a bit of pressure on us but this time it feels different. We know what we want to do and I think the hardest thing will be picking our best team all of the time. That’s how strong the squad is and everyone is playing well. It is a good place to be in.

England want to build on the impressive T20 performances in Pakistan and Australia so far

Unfortunately Reece Topley slipped and rolled his ankle in Brisbane and that is a big blow. He has been crucial for us this year. We are gutted he is missing the tournament. 

He has been through a lot of setbacks and I’m sure he will be back. He would have been such an important bowler and it is sad news just before our first game.

That first game is on Saturday against Afghanistan and we cannot take them lightly. As we have seen already, with Namibia beating Sri Lanka and Scotland beating West Indies, anyone can beat anyone.

We have to be on top of our game and this is one tournament and format where you will be punished if you are not at your best.

Jos Buttler came back in for the Australia series and made batting look effortless

We couldn’t get the cricket on the TV in Brisbane but we’ve got it in the hotel in Perth and I’m enjoying watching a bit of the group games and seeing how competitive T20 cricket is. 

You cannot write anyone off in such a short format. Last year, we got off to the perfect start when we beat West Indies, the then reigning champions. We could do with a similar start.

In Rashid Khan, Afghanistan have a world-class player. They have potential match winners throughout their side and come Saturday, both teams will be up for it.

It has been calm in terms of our team environment in Australia, training hard and playing well. It always is when you are winning and the coaching staff have been very relaxed. 

David Saker and Mike Hussey have come in and done a brilliant job. They know the surfaces out here and their knowledge can only be a positive for us.

England seamer Reece Topley is out of the T20 World Cup after suffering an ankle injury

It’s great to have Liam Livingstone back too after his time out. Livi’s six that went out of the ground at the Gabba was a ridiculous strike!

And Jos Buttler came back in for the Australia series and made batting look effortless. It is a joy to watch him play.

After years of touring in bubbles and being limited to a few venues, there is a real feel of a proper tournament about this one with the travelling around Australia. We had a five-and-a-half-hour flight from Brisbane to Perth after that warm-up game against Pakistan and there are going to be a few days when travelling takes up most of our day.

England face Afghanistan, who have a world-class player in leg spinner Rashid Khan

After Perth, we head east to Melbourne for a couple of games and then back up to Brisbane before our last group game in Sydney. Let’s hope there is a bit more travelling after that for the semi-final and final!

My wife and two kids arrived on Tuesday and I’m buzzing to have them out for the trip. When you’ve been away for a while, it makes such a difference to your mood. That company and support is priceless and lets you switch off from the game. A lot of the boys are looking forward to their families visiting in the coming weeks.

We came so close to winning this tournament in 2016 in India and to go out in the semis last year in the United Arab Emirates was gutting, especially after how well we played up to that game against New Zealand.

So there is a real desire to go all the way and add to our ODI World Cup. I’m confident, but we’ve been in this situation before. We know we are a strong side and it is a cliche, yes, but it really is the kind of tournament where you take one game at a time.

If we play the cricket we have shown we can play over the last month or so, I’m sure we will be contenders. We are ready to crack on.

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