Moeen confirms Test retirement, rules out return after England draw Ashes 2023

All-rounder Moeen Ali has confirmed his re-retirement from Test cricket after England’s victory in the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval and will not consider reversing his decision again.

Off-spinning all-rounder Moeen took three wickets on the final day at The Oval as England beat Australia by 49 runs in the fifth and final Test of a closely-fought series at The Oval, with the result meaning the five-match series finished tied at 2-2.

The 35-year-old, who retired from Test cricket at the end of the 2021 summer, has reversed his decision following discussions with Test captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum after Jack Leach was ruled out of the five-match Ashes Test series with a stress fracture of the back.

He also revealed at the start of the series that he was contacted by the skipper through a text message that simply read ‘Ashes?’ to which he replied “Lol” before agreeing to return.

“I know I’m done. If Stokesy messages me again, I am going to delete it! I have enjoyed it and it is great to finish on a high,” Stokes told Sky Sports.

“It was great to come back. When Stokesy messaged me I was a little taken aback but when I said yes, I was fully into it. I have loved it, it has been an amazing experience to play under Stokesy and Baz (England coach Brendon McCullum), one I will never forget for the rest of my life. I am so glad I said yes,” he added.

The off-spin all-rounder, who missed the Lord’s Test due to a finger injury, scored 180 runs in four Tests, including a half-century at Emirates Old Trafford after asking to be promoted to No 3, and claimed nine wickets in the 2023 Ashes.

He ended the Ashes series having become just the 16th Test cricketer to reach the dual milestones of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

Moeen, who ends his Test career with 3,094 runs and 204 wickets, will continue to play a part for England in white-ball cricket and is expected to play a significant role in their attempted World Cup defence in October and November this year.

Meanwhile, England cricket coach Brendon McCullum believes his players’ performances in the Ashes further validate the “Bazball” blueprint that has delivered a year-long undefeated streak in Test series under the New Zealander.

The English came from 2-0 down in an unforgettable series to draw 2-2 thanks to a narrow victory in the fifth Test at The Oval on Monday. They could even have won the series had rain not washed out the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which England dominated. Australia came into the Ashes as the newly crowned Test world champions and therefore provided the toughest challenge in England’s era of “Bazball” under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.

The Australians might be going home with the urn but McCullum said England played its part in what he described as a “quite incredible” series.

“I think both sides have stayed true to their styles and that’s what makes a great heavyweight fight,” he said. “It’s two different styles and total conviction in them.

“When you look back to when the skipper (Stokes) was thinking, ‘Would we be able to take on a great Australian team - and they are a great Australian team - and go toe to toe with them?’ I think the answer is yes and that’s a tremendous confidence booster for the group.”

It was McCullum’s first taste of an Ashes series and he said he didn’t want it to end.

It was the closest ever five-match Test series, with Australia earning its two wins by two wickets and then 43 runs and England winning the third Test by three wickets and the fifth Test by 49 runs. Three of the four completed Tests went deep into a fifth day.

“I think we should go round again and have another five Tests, keep doing what we’re doing,” McCullum said. “It’s been an incredible six weeks and I’m really proud to be sharing a dressing room with the England boys.

Agencies