Moeen Ali

People have the right to support who they want of course but I'm hoping in the future maybe they or their kids will become England fans and players.

In terms of trying to inspire other people with faith to play and stuff I am very proud of that. I remember seeing Muslim athletes or guys with other faiths performing and still carrying the label of being a religious person and it does inspire people.

I have played quite a few Test matches in the back garden with my two brothers.

I'm not a massive reader of online comments but I come across the odd comment where people still question if I'm English. I find that so silly.

My dad and uncle were so protective so whenever someone would say or do something to harm us they were right there. They were very shy but you cross a line with them and the temper can get quite rough.

It took a lot of sacrifice from my dad. He managed to put cricket nets in our garden because he knew we had to practise every day. That would also keep us away from the streets.

If someone dares me to do something I'll just do it.

In Twenty20 it's not always about straight drives and high elbows. It's amazing how far you can hit the ball. I've always been able to hit the ball far but not consistently like I have in practice over here. I'm enjoying it so much.

I have been told in the past that's my downfall but I'd rather be too nice to be honest. I set out in cricket to make friends. I'd rather people say they enjoyed playing with him and he's a good guy, not he's a good player but a bit of a so and so.

You do your best but I think I'm going to try and get back in as a batsman first, spinner second.

I have been up and down the batting order and it's difficult. People don't always realise that.

I know personally as a young player when coaches came to my school that is someone you want to be like and I think that helps massively.

When you go into cricket you have to be streetwise.

If I wasn't doing this, I'd be working in a chippy. Cricket can change your life. It can teach you a lot about discipline and life in general.

I think a lot of people do see me as like a role model or as an ambassador.

From nine, I started playing cricket. From 11, I knew this is what I'm doing.

If I can play, and change the mind of one person about being a Muslim player and having a beard, then I'll feel as if I've done my job.

I was so fortunate to play my club cricket at Moseley Ashfield. We had loads of Asians, white players, black players. You grow up from that knowing it just doesn't matter what religion or culture people are into, everyone is different.

People make mistakes along the way. Cricket means I may not always be there for everyone all the time. But when I take the field for my country, I know there are a lot of people I am representing.

I know my responsibilities. They are to my religion, my parents, my wife, my family and my community.

Look at a player like Divock Origi. No one was talking about the guy and then suddenly he becomes a hero.

People have been saying life will change for us now but me? No chance. I may be a World Cup winner but I will always be the lad who played cricket with his friends and cousins in the park on Stoney Lane in south Birmingham using an old milk crate for stumps.

I grew up playing against friends and cousins in the park and it was some of the most competitive cricket I have played.

I know how much of a uniting game cricket is and as a leader of the Birmingham Phoenix that is something I definitely want to promote.

The moment we won the World Cup is one I will never forget and would do anything just to experience again. It was the most euphoric sporting sensation you could possibly imagine.

Runs are important, don't get me wrong, but it will be wickets that I will be judged on.

It's not easy for a player who considers him or herself to be a proper batter to then adjust down the order. Put anyone there and the scores won't necessarily come. You can lose a bit of love for it, too.

I have always been a player whose form goes up and down but at the moment I feel my batting confidence is at its lowest. Negative comments can affect you and they probably have.

And in an Ashes series the best approach as a player is to not get caught up in feeling pressure for your position but to think only about the greater cause. How can I contribute? It could be a single moment, like a blinding catch or a run out. Think only of the team's needs.

All I care about is England doing well and if that means I'm looking on for a bit, I won't lose any sleep.

My beliefs are that good people who work hard get their rewards. There will be struggle at times and hurdles along the way - life throws up all sorts - but in the end, you will prevail if you stick to the right path.

Sometimes it can feel like my bad days in Test cricket get amplified or singled out more than other players, while my good ones can fly under the radar. I'm not making excuses but over time this can get to you a little bit.

To be part of a World Cup=winning squad was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There was no resentment or sadness from missing the later games.

Since my international debut in 2014 the miles on the clock have probably crept up and Test cricket is the level where the pressure and scrutiny are greatest.

Representing England has always been a privilege and my decision to take a break from Test cricket at the end of the home summer was made to ensure that, hopefully, I can do it for a lot longer.

We're a tight-knit city in Birmingham. We have so much around us that brings the people together, no matter who you are or your background.

Every time that I come to Edgbaston it takes me back to some great first memories of coming here at a very young age.

A lot of the Indian supporters would have been born in Birmingham, have Birmingham accents. It is my home city as well. Second, third generations from the sub-continent still support India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

My dad always wanted me to be a cricketer, study no chance. Once he saw that I was quite good for my age, no school. So, as soon as I did my GCSEs, I got signed by Warwickshire at 15.

I needed to step back from cricket, international cricket in particular, to get away from the scrutiny and intensity. I love it but it was too much for me.

I don't want anyone to think I don't love playing for England because playing for your country is the greatest thing a cricketer can do.

In sport, the underdog does come out on top quite a bit.

I've opened throughout most of my career at Worcester. I understand there are guys in the team who have opened for a long time, more than me, with better records than me.

Sometimes in Asian homes it is all about where we've come from, which is important too, but it is about where you live and where you're born and the people who are the same as you.

But I think my dad's academy is one of the best. The first reason he does it is to take people away from the streets and doing all the wrong stuff and for those kids to learn a range of skills.

I coach for my dad's academy. Sometimes it's just about being there - it's not just the coaching - it's seeing that you are there to inspire or they are trying to impress you.

People get involved not just in politics but in groups and sects and... forget the main reason why we're here: to worship Allah.