Moeen Ali rejoins the Ashes team after retiring from Test competition.
Moeen Ali rejoins the Ashes team after retiring from Test competition.
The decision to reactivate the 35-year-old all-rounder from Test retirement means that England will field Moeen Ali for the first two Ashes Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s. After speaking with the captain Ben Stokes, the head coach Brendon McCullum, and the managing director of England Men’s Cricket Rob Key, Moeen, who had announced his retirement from England Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2021 season, was forced back into the lineup.
The decision to reactivate Moeen follows the earlier this week withdrawal of star five-match series spinner Jack Leach due to a hamstring issue. At his home field in Birmingham, Moeen will be a front-runner to add to his 64 Test appearances.
We spoke with Mo (Moeen Ali) about playing Test cricket again early this week, Key said in a statement posted on the ECB website. “After some time to think, Mo is eager to re-join the team and play Test cricket. His breadth of knowledge and all-around skill will help our Ashes campaign. We send Mo and the rest of the team our best wishes for their Ashes campaign.