We weren’t just good in the ODI World Cup, feel we are a better T20I side: Moeen Ali

The 2019 ODI World Cup winner England were in shambles in the 2023 edition of the mega event. The Jos Buttler-led side failed to deliver for the majority period of the time and courtesy of the same, they couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. The Three Lions were also on the verge of missing out on the qualification for the Champions Trophy 2025 but with two back-to-back wins over Netherlands and Pakistan, they managed to achieve the target.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Moeen Ali wasn’t impressed with the team’s performance in the marquee tournament in India. He mentioned that they weren’t good enough to go the distance and clarified that it happens to every team once in a while. He also added that the batters were not in form and that might have cost them the title.

“We didn’t play well throughout the World Cup. The batters were out of form and it happens in cricket. We’ve been so good over a long period of time now, but it is just one of those things that we just didn’t perform. It is a World Cup and a special one where all teams were good, but we weren’t just good,” Moeen Ali told Gulf News on the sidelines of the AbuDhabi T10.

I feel we are a better Twenty20 side. I’m sure we will come back stronger: Moeen Ali

However, the 36-year-old was quite optimistic about the team’s chance in the upcoming T20 World Cup, slated to begin on June 3, 2024. He believes that England have a very strong team in the shortest format of the game and hence, will try again to get back the trophy.

“We want to try and win again. I feel we are a better Twenty20 side. I’m sure we will come back stronger,” Moeen said. 

On the other hand, after losing the first match of the series against West Indies, England made a strong comeback in the second one. Buttler, Sam Curran and Will Jacks are in good form, which will give them the confidence to do well in the third and final ODI of the series.