The Ashes 2017-18: England star Moeen Ali confirms fitness for Test series Down Under as he and Alastair Cook spend the day at the zoo

ENGLAND star Moeen Ali has confirmed his fitness for the Ashes series… as he and Alastair Cook spent the day at the zoo.

The all-rounder will be a key figure for the tourists Down Under, particularly in the absence of Ben Stokes.

And Mo revealed he WILL be fit to take to the field for the First Test at the Gabba during a team outing to the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville.

Ahead of England’s final Ashes warm-up game, Moeen said: “I can’t wait, getting a bit of game time in my system and then ready to play at the Gabba.

“I’m very excited, looking forward to the atmosphere. It doesn’t faze me.

“I’m just going to come out and play like I always do for England, and give it my best shot.”

All-rounder Moeen also revealed he is happy with England’s progress during the two somewhat uninspiring warm-up games thus far.

He added: “The opposition has been quite good.

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“We were in trouble a couple of times, so it was a bit of a reality check for us to get back into our game.

“[We must] make sure we’re ruthless when we do get the chance and not give it away.”

During Moeen’s day out with former skipper Cook, the pair were seen playing with CROCODILES and koalas.

The England duo helped the crocs surge out of the water and leap into the air with a few tricks of the trade.

Following that, they took it down a notch as they cuddled koalas and posed for pics with the marsupials.

With the First Test in Brisbane a mere ten days away, England fans will be hoping their side show a little bite of their own when taking on the old enemy Down Under.