Moeen Ali: England all-rounder rules out return to Test cricket | Cricket News
England skipper Moeen Ali won’t back down on his decision to quit playing Test cricket
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has said he has closed the door on a return to Test cricket after having an « honest » chat with manager Brendon McCullum.
Moeen made his Test debut in 2014 and went on to score 2,914 runs in 64 Tests averaging 28.29, collecting 195 wickets.
The 35-year-old announced his retirement from the game’s longest format in September last year, but in June he said McCullum had probed him about a potential red ball return.
The England Test team will next play a three-match series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December, but Moeen said he would not be with them.
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Highlights from the seventh game of the T20 between Pakistan and England.
« I had an honest conversation with Baz (McCullum) and I can’t see myself being stuck in hotels for another month and playing to the best of my abilities, » Moeen wrote in his column for the Daily Mail on Monday.
« Baz phoned me, we talked for a long time and I said, ‘Sorry, I’m done’. He understands, he knows the feeling. Testing cricket is hard work. I’m 35 and something has to give.
« I want to enjoy my cricket and it wouldn’t be fair to reverse my decision and then struggle to give it my all. It’s time to close the door on this side of my career. Playing 64 Tests for England has been a privilege and a dream come true.”
Moeen captained England’s Twenty20 side in their 4-3 win over Pakistan in the absence of injured Jos Buttler and will be a key player for the team at this month’s T20 World Cup- here in Australia.
Moeen: Other teams will fear England
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Following England’s victory in the T20 match against Pakistan on Sunday, Moeen Ali praised his team’s depth of play and how well they are currently in position.
He recently said that the teams will fear to face England in the next T20 World Cup after their series victory.
England beat Pakistan by 67 runs on Sunday in the deciding series after a clinical batting and bowling performance.
Matthew Mott’s side plundered 209-3 after being inserted, with Dawid Malan (78 from 47 balls) and Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook (46 from 29) slamming 108 of the last 61 innings deliveries at Lahore.
Pakistan limped to 142-8 in response, with captain Babar Azam (4) following defects on the pitch – twice losing catches that should have remained blocked – being dismissed by Chris Woakes (3-26) in the first round of the chase and Mohammad Rizwan kicked (1) by Reece Topley in the second as the home side fell to 5-2.
« We’re really happy to win this series and we’re going to Australia in a really good position, but I don’t think we’re favorites for the World Cup, » Moeen said.
“If I’m honest, I don’t feel that at all, but I know we’re a very dangerous team to play and other teams will be afraid to play us. But I still think Australia and India are the two favorites.”
“We were disappointed at the end because looking back I think if we had really been on it we probably would have won. [the series] 6-1.”
You can watch the T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports, with the tournament starting on October 16.
