Last Update on: May 29th, 2022 at 04:21 pm
England all-rounder Moeen Ali is reportedly said to make a return to Test cricket under new head coach Brendon McCullum.
The 34-year-old announced retirement from the oldest format after the Manchester Test between England and India was postponed in September last year. Moeen questioned his abilities to focus in the longest format of the game and chose to prolong his career in white-ball formats (ODIs and T20Is).
Moeen Ali likely to come back to England’s Test side
Moeen has scored 2914 runs from 64 Tests at an average of 28.29 with five Test hundreds. He also picked 195 wickets at 36.66 with 5 five wicket-hauls to his name.
Had the Manchester Test not been cancelled, the spin-bowling all-rounder could have become the 15th Test player in the history to score 3000 runs along with 200 wickets.
According to a report published in Daily Mail, Moeen Ali has told Brendon McCullum he is willing to come out of Test retirement to help England’s new head coach rebuild their red-ball fortunes.
“He respects Brendon immensely and would play for him. He’s always been committed to England and wishes to continue. He will assist when required,” a source was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.
Adil Rashid, Joss Buttler also in Brendon McCullum’s plans
Moeen’s spin bowling partner Adil Rashid could also get a call for red-ball cricket as McCullum is looking at sufficient spin bowling options.
Rashid hasn’t played any First-Class game even for Yorkshire county club with his last red-ball game being the Bridgetown Test against West Indies in January 2019.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler was dropped for the West Indies Tests owing to poor form in the Ashes. It is said the white-ball specialist batter could get more opportunities under the tenure of Ben Stokes (new England captain) and McCullum.
“He (Buttler) is one of those players you look at instantly and think: “How could he be so dominant in one form of the game and not quite have found his feet, other than a few fleeting performances, in Test cricket?” said McCullum.
England will host New Zealand for three Test matches early in June at home with the first Test scheduled to begin on June 2 at the Lord’s.
Also Read: In Ben Stokes, England Has A Strong Leader, A ‘Follow Me’ Type Of Captain
