Moeen Ali: Birmingham Bears all-rounder finally gets to face Pears

Moeen Ali has been here, there and everywhere and done this, that and that again in his two decades in cricket.

A World Cup winner in 50-over and 20-over cricket, who’s also won the IPL and T20 Blast.

A haul of 298 England appearances with 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20s.

A Midlands-born Anglo-Asian role model and global superstar who, as one of the ultimate cricketing guns for hire, has taken his unique talent to light up franchise cricket in countries including Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and South Africa.

But it was with Warwickshire, and then 16 years at Worcestershire where he first made his name.

On Friday at Edgbaston he will do something he has never done before – at the age of 37, Moeen will play for the Bears against the Pears.

“It’ll be a bit strange, but I’ve a job to do,” Moeen told BBC Radio WM. “It’ll be an emotional night, a packed house and an incredible atmosphere. The biggest Blast game of the season.

“We say it doesn’t matter who you play against, it’s all about winning games, but the reality is that Friday at Edgbaston will be extra special for me.

“I don’t think I have ever played against Worcestershire before.”

Other than youth and second XI cricket, where he played against Worcestershire at Kenilworth in 2003, he has not.

In first-class, List A or T20 games.

Moeen has faced the Bears 14 times in T20 cricket since joining the Pears as a teenager in 2006 – but this will be his first derby since re-signing.