All-rounder Moeen Ali wants to open the batting for England
The 28-year-old has never batted higher than number six for England, but boasts a competent average of 38.01 from 15 Tests.
Adam Lyth was desperately out of sorts against Australia this summer, averaging only 12.77, and England coach Trevor Bayliss has already hinted that Ali could open the batting with Alastair Cook against Pakistan later this year.
And while he sympathises with Lyth, Ali would be keen on partnering Cook at the top of the order.
"I would love to be batting back up the order, because coming in at number eight it was already 80 for six or something like that," Ali wrote in his England and Wales Cricket Board blog.
"Before the series I thought to myself that the best thing I could do was be consistent and hopefully push myself up. I feel I've done that, and I was last man out in both innings at the Oval.
"I certainly wouldn't mind opening, in Tests as well as white-ball cricket - even though I've never done it in first-class cricket, I have in the second team as well as in one-day stuff with Worcestershire and England.
"But I feel a bit bad talking about that because of Adam Lyth. It's probably the hardest job in cricket, opening the batting, especially in the Ashes, and he must be so frustrated because I always thought he looked all right against the new ball - he just couldn't go past getting those starts.
"I really admire the way he stayed bubbly and positive in the changing room when it can be very easy to not give anything to the team. That's a big attribute to have and the reason everyone always likes Lythy. I think he'll come back strong."
Ali, England's front-line spinner, was disappointed with his bowling displays against the Australians this summer. He took only 12 wickets at an average of 45.5.
"I wasn't happy with my bowling again," he said after England's defeat at the Kia Oval.
"I know I took three wickets but I was expensive. It hasn't been easy in this series because they've been coming at me, and sometimes even when you bowl well you get hit for fours.
"I'll speak to people like Saeed Ajmal at Worcester about what's been happening but mostly it will be about working it out for myself."
Source: PA
