PAK vs ENG: I Won't Be Playing Test Cricket For England Again - Moeen Ali After Having An Honest Chat With Brendon McCullum
Published - 04 Oct 2022, 01:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:13 AM
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has ended his Test career after an “honest” conversation with coach Brendon McCullum, ruling himself out of a return for the tour of Pakistan in December.
The 35-year-old all-rounder retired from Test cricket in September last year but hinted at a comeback in June under England’s new leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. However, in his Daily Mail column, Ali revealed that he told England head coach McCullum that he would not be available for selection again.
England will play a three-match Test series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Karachi in December, but Moeen said that he would not be there.
Sorry, I’m Done – Moeen Ali On Playing Test cricket For England Again
“I’ve had an honest chat with Baz (McCullum) and I can’t see myself being stuck in hotels for another month and playing to the best of my ability,” Moeen wrote in his column for the Daily Mail on Monday.
“Baz phoned me, we spoke at length and I said, ‘Sorry, I’m done’. He understands, he knows the feeling. Test cricket is hard work. I’m 35 and something’s got to give.”
Moeen made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2014 and went on to play 64 Test matches. He scored 2914 runs at an average of 28.29 with 5 centuries, picking up 195 wickets.
“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 that side of my career. To play 64 tests for England has been a privilege and a dream fulfilled.”
In the absence of the injured Jos Buttler, Moeen captained the England Twenty20 side that won the series 4-3 against Pakistan. He scored 142 runs with an average of 142 at a strike rate of 159.55, including 2 fifties in the seven-match T20i series. He will be a key player in the T20 World Cup in Australia this month.
Also read: PAK vs ENG: I Hope Pakistan Don’t Crash Out In The First Round Of The T20 World Cup – Shoaib Akhtar
