WELLINGTON — England opening batsman Moeen Ali does not expect things to get any easier for his team when it takes on New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup Friday after a heavy first-up loss to Australia. Ali said England had put behind it its 111-run loss to Australia but acknowledged the task will be just as tough against a New Zealand team he said is “on a par with Australia.” Even beyond Friday's match in Wellington, there is little respite for England which faces a motivated Scotland Monday; a more difficult assignment than it might first have appeared after the Scots lost to New Zealand by only three wickets Tuesday. “The World Cup is not decided over one game, it's a long period of time,” Ali said. “Australia set the standard with how good they are and New Zealand is going to be just as hard, we feel. “That was probably the worst we've played in Australia, throughout the whole trip so far. It's good to get that game out of the way now.” Ali said New Zealand's is “probably No. 1 in the world right now.” England at least expects to find conditions in New Zealand a little more to its liking after struggling on fast, bouncy pitches in Australia. “The wickets are flatter but in terms of cloud cover and all that kind of stuff, it's a bit more like it is at home,” Ali said. “The batters and the bowlers probably feel it suits us a lot more.” “Obviously we were very disappointed after the Australia match. We know we have to move on. Ali said there was still plenty of time for England to recover and book its place in the quarterfinals. “We have so much to play for,” he said. All 14 teams will play six first-round matches, with the top four from each of the two pools qualifying for the quarterfinals. “We are going to have to up our skill level and up our game against New Zealand. It shows just how tough international cricket is, and in a major tournament we are going to have to be ready.” Ali, admitted England, who also lost to Australia in the tri-series final a few days before the World Cup, had been well below the mark at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After Friday's game, England will fancy their chances of getting through to the knockout stages with matches against minnows Bangladesh, Scotland and Afghanistan. “It's a tough draw, very tough, two of the best sides up front,” said Ali, whose off-breaks also provide England with a spin-bowling option. “If we can win Friday, it puts us in a great position I feel. It will show everybody that we are a good, serious side.” Ali, meanwhile, was desperate to spend more time at the crease after managing just 10 runs against Australia. “As a top-order batsman if we can get in and look to bat the 50 overs or even 35 overs these days, you can get double hundreds,” he explained. “Guys are getting close now, when they get a hundred they get big hundreds. “It's a about us getting in and doing it for the team.” — Agencies
