Kerry O’Keeffe believes Australia’s big hitters will ‘drop kick’ Moeen Ali out of the attack

MOEEN Ali is set to lurch from the frying pan into the fire this summer, with Australia’s batsmen ready to feast on the underdone England spinner.

Moeen Ali has been warned not to play with dangerous animals.

MOEEN Ali is set to lurch from the frying pan into the fire this summer, with Australia’s batsmen ready to feast on the underdone England spinner.

The dangerous all-rounder stands as England’s only real hope of replacing Ben Stokes, yet he himself has been battling a side-strain in the lead-up to the first Test at the Gabba starting on Thursday week.

However, even if Ali does get his body right after surviving feeding some hungry crocs in Townsville on Monday, there will be no respite in Brisbane, with former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe predicting he will be the No.1 target for Australia’s big bats at the top of the order.

Moeen Ali has been warned not to play with dangerous animals.

Ali has proven a regular match-winner for England with five Test centuries and nine four-wicket plus hauls with the ball – but O’Keeffe believes Australia will look to “drop kick” him out of the attack.

“The guy with more pressure on is the other spinner, Moeen Ali. I think we’ll take him on from the very first ball,” said O’Keeffe said at the launch of Triple M’s cricket summer, which he will anchor as their leading commentator.

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“You can take him on down the ground. When he hasn’t done well it’s because people have taken him over the top. He’s a flat spinner.

“If it’s not turning, we can drop kick him.

“I think the pressure will be there the moment he comes on because he’ll be trying to relieve Anderson, Broad and Jake Ball with some tight spells.

“If they take him on and get on top of him they throw the pressure on (captain) Root to bring back one of their quicker men.

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“That can drain the quicker men because Moeen Ali has been brought down. I’m interested in the Australian tactics against Moeen Ali.

“I think they’ll be ultra-aggressive and risk getting out to put pressure back on Root.”

O’Keeffe believes age may not be an issue for spearhead quick James Anderson, particularly if England are careful in managing him through and possibly resting him for a Test.

However, he said co-assassin Stuart Broad may have a point to prove.

“I’m stunned at how well Anderson’s action looks at 35,” said O’Keeffe.

“Has (Stuart Broad) lost a yard (of pace)? We’re going to find out. I watched him in the off-season, he bowled some good spells but they were pumping him a bit down the ground.

“I’m interested in the tactics against Stuart Broad … I remember when Jason Gillespie lost half a yard, they started to attack him and the end of his career happened pretty quickly.

“Australia will look to drive him if it’s not moving and if you lose half a yard at international cricket it’s a hard road as a lot of fast bowlers have found.”

Originally published as Kerry O’Keeffe believes Australia’s big hitters will ‘drop kick’ Moeen Ali out of the attack