Quotes from Moeen Ali

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

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

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

When shots are going for six and you're playing well, everyone is trying to big you up. Mis=hit one, get out, all the negative people come out.

No matter where I bat I try to adapt to the situation.

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.

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.

If they come after me and my bowling you get a bit down. But when I am fielding I think about it and there are worse things that can happen. I take in the atmosphere a bit and think this is not too bad.

Yes, I see myself as a role model. And as a role model, I have to behave in a certain way.

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.

When we get to the third and fourth generation immigrant families and beyond there will be more England supporters among them, maybe even the majority. I have had British Asians tell me they support England because of me or Adil Rashid and that's great to hear.

Being English, being born in England, this is our home and we should be supporting our home country.

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.

I never thought I'd be a senior player in a county side, let alone the England side. When you break into a county side, that is your aim, so it's an incredible feeling to have achieved that with England.

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.

Cricket can produce some amazing feelings on the field and I have been lucky enough to experience a few along the way.

Through county cricket all the way up to international cricket, the individual needs to be responsible for his behaviour.

We all played in my family and cricket has always been in the blood.

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

When you go into cricket you have to be streetwise.

We want cricket to grow for kids, and for families to come and watch.

I've always said it's just a game of cricket. The only pressure I get is when I feel I've let the team down.

I think my dad always believed I would play for England, probably more than I believed it, but it never crossed our minds that we weren't going to make it.

I was just a normal teenager, going out with my friends, enjoying my time. I didn't really believe in anything, I didn't fast or pray.