Veteran England all-rounder Moeen Ali has come out of his Test retirement to join the squad for the five-Test Ashes series against Australia starting June 16 at Edgbaston.
The 35-year-old had announced his Test retirement after the 2021 tour of India, saying he ‘felt like I didn’t belong in it’, having also lost out on a full contract sometime in 2019. But England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum convinced him to reconsider his decision as the spin bowling all-rounder was included in the squad on Wednesday as a replacement for the injured Jack Leach.
Somerset left-arm spinner Leach was ruled out of the Ashes with a stress fracture in his back.
“We reached out to Mo (Moeen Ali) earlier this week about his return to Test cricket,” Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, said in a statement on Wednesday.
He is back!
Welcome back, Moe! #Ashes #ENGvAUS – England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 7, 2023
“After a few days to reflect, Mo is excited to rejoin the team and play Test cricket again. His vast experience, combined with his all-round ability, will benefit our Ashes campaign. We wish Mo and the rest of the team the best of luck.” We do.” Good for the Ashes campaign.”
Moeen, who recently won the IPL 2023 trophy with Chennai Super Kings, last played first-class cricket in September 2021 against India at The Oval Test.
The Telegraph said it also remains to be seen whether Moeen’s Test availability is limited to the Ashes as England tour India for a five-Test series later this year for the Anthony de Mello Trophy.
Moeen has played 64 Tests since his debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014, scoring 2,914 runs at an average of 28.29 with five centuries and 14 fifties. He has also taken 195 wickets at 36.66.
While the prospect of playing five-day cricket with the red ball poses a challenge in itself, England and Moeen will also have to work on improving the all-rounder’s performances against Australia.
In 11 Tests against Australia, he has scored 476 runs at 25.05 with two half-centuries. He averages 64.65 with the ball, taking 20 wickets against arch-rivals England.
England Ashes team
Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tong, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood .