MOEEN Ali’s versatility has helped make him a key part of England’s plans across all three formats, but the all-rounder admits he does not know what role he will be asked to perform on any given day.

Moeen opened the batting in this year’s World Cup, played as a specialist spinner and went in at number eight during the Ashes and made an unbeaten 72 at three in England’s narrow Twenty20 victory over Australia on Monday.

He was called on to bowl a solitary over in that match, but it was the most economical of the innings and included the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell.

Moeen’s ability to fill a variety of slots will be a priceless commodity as the rebuilding of England’s limited-overs game continues under coach Trevor Bayliss.

But, with the Royal London one-day series against Australia due to get under way in Southampton today, he is still unsure about his place in the batting order.

“I haven’t been told...I didn’t know I was going to play in Car - diff until the day before either, so I don’t have a clue,” he said.

“I can bat from anywhere from one to 11 really...you’ve still got to try to smash it. Wherever the team wants me to bat, I will bat, and if that’s three then so be it.

I have done it before so it is not a problem.”

Moeen has a clear preference for opening up in limited-overs cricket, where he can take advantage of fielding restrictions and use the pace of the new ball to his advantage, but England are keen to give the explosive pairing of Alex Hales and Jason Roy a run at the head of the in - nings.

“Yes, I love opening the batting but if not then I’m still happy,” he said.

“I think with the fielding re - strictions it doesn’t really mat - ter now but most of the time I enjoy the newer, harder ball because I don’t have to hit it as hard.

“I find it better if I open the batting but I am happy at three, four, five or wherever.

“The two guys who are open - ing at the moment are very exciting players and hopefully, if they both get in, I am sure you will see more runs than if I was batting there.”

Monday’s victory in Cardiff was Moeen’s first white-ball appearance since the disappointment of England’s World Cup campaign.

He did not feature in the ex - citing clashes against New Zealand earlier in the summer, with England preferring to leave him playing first-class cricket with Worcestershire as Ashes prepa - ration.

But he was an interested observer as a new-look squad made their names with some impres - sive series win over the highly-rated Black Caps and was eager to join up with the group.

“Watching that series at home I obviously wanted to play in it, it was the sort of cricket I wanted to be involved with,” said Moeen.

“I was playing the four-day stuff at the time but watching was very exciting and I wanted to be part of it.

“With the type of players we are picking you can see it is more aggressive and there is more shot-hitting but you still have to play proper shots.

“It is actually very similar to the way Australia play their cricket, very aggressive.

“They play really tough and hard cricket and we are trying to do the same thing. I don’t think they’ll be surprised, they have obviously been watching us against New Zealand and the way we played there.

“I think they will expect it.”