WORCESTERSHIRE’S Moeen Ali is confident he can cope with an expected short-pitch barrage at the World Cup — starting with Mitchell Johnson on Saturday.

Word has quickly spread around the international scene about the England opener’s perceived weakness against the short ball and he was most recently out fending at a well-aimed Johnson bouncer in the tri-series final in Perth.

That was the first time Moeen had faced the Australian tearaway, who was rested for most of the tri-series, and while he succumbed to Johnson, he believes he has played the short ball well since arriving Down Under.

He said: “There have been times when I’ve been bounced out, especially against India (in the summer) when I didn’t play the short ball very well.

“But against Australia in the tri-series I’ve felt like I’ve seen the ball well. Maybe because of the extra pace — there’s something different about facing Australia.

“I just felt that was a good ball (from Johnson). I didn’t feel like it was too quick, it was just right on the money. Before that I was playing him quite well so I’m not too worried about the short ball.

“I’ve been working quite hard on it so I feel like I’m ready to play against Australia on Saturday.”

Moeen was not part of the squad that suffered at the hands of Johnson during last winter’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash, and after his first taste of facing the left-armer he actually felt Mitchell Starc was faster.

The County left-hander concedes that after his lay-off Johnson was probably not at his fearsome best at the WACA Ground, but suspects he will still be better off at the MCG for having now seen him first hand.

“I found Mitchell Starc quicker — maybe because it was Johnson’s first game back,” Moeen said.

“Even though I got a good ball I felt I found Starc harder.

“I looked at a lot of (Johnson’s) balls, a lot were cross seam. They always do something a bit more. He’s obviously a top-quality bowler, he’s not just pace, he’s quality as well.

“When I faced him that first over he was back he was tough — but on that day Mitchell Starc was quicker.”

Even if Moeen survives any Australian hostility on Valentine’s Day — and he did club Pat Cummins for a hat-trick of sixes when he was bounced in Hobart — he knows other nations are still likely to test him against the short ball throughout the World Cup.

“Yeah, of course. Ever since I opened the batting in Sri Lanka there were times they kept bouncing me,” he said.

“I feel like I’m getting better at it and as long as I keep working hard at it I’ll be all right.”