England’s star all-rounder Moeen Ali declares himself fit ahead of his team’s final warm-up game before Ashes opener in Brisbane. Now, he will play in the four-day warm-up game in Townsville scheduled to play from Wednesday.

He got injured during a net session, which forced him to miss first two warm-up games in Perth and Adelaide respectively. Ali cleared clouds over his availability while talking to ANI.

“I am good. It’s just a slight strain on my side from throwing. It was a bit frustrating but also not a bad thing, you get a lot more work done. I feel like I am ready to play and I can’t wait to spend time in the field. We have got four days of cricket ahead. I can get a bit of game time in my system and then be ready to play, hopefully, at the Gabba,” he said.

The first Test in Brisbane will be his first five-day game in Australia. While talking about the same, he added “I’ve heard a lot about Brisbane. It’s something you have to block out. You have to focus on your game and the situation that the team is in. I’m prepared the best I can. When you’re out there you rely on your instincts. I know it will be tough, but I’ve always backed my ability.”

The 30-year-old has been very crucial for the Three Lions’ success since his debut. Ali along with Ben Stokes was the leading cricketers for England in their triumphs in Red Ball cricket. Now, Stokes is missing this tour, which may force him to leave lower batting order and now he can bat at number five or six.

While commenting about his batting position, he quoted “With the Stokesy situation I’ve probably got to go up the order by one, but my aim as a cricketer is to get up the order as high as I can, maybe push into a role at five or six. Obviously, that’s a bit further ahead. Firstly I have to do the job at number seven.”

The first Test of Ashes will undergo in Brisbane’s Gabba from November 23.