Moeen Ali has ruled out returning to the England Test team for their tour of Pakistan in December, stating his time is over with the red-ball format of the game.
The off-spinner captained the nation’s white-ball team on their recent seven-game T20 tour of the country, in lieu of Jos Buttler, leading them to a 4-3 series win,
Having stepped away from the five-day game last year under Joe Root’s captaincy, a potential return under successor Ben Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum had been mooted.
But now Moeen says he will not walk back his decision, adding that it would be unfair to change his mind, despite suggesting he was poised to over the summer.
“Baz phoned me, we spoke at length and I said, “Sorry, I’m done,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I’ve had an honest chat with Baz and I can’t see myself being stuck in hotels for another month and playing to the best of my ability.
“Test cricket is hard work. I’m 35 and something’s got 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.”
A big series win to start a massive winter for our T20 team 🙌
🇵🇰#PAKvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/sqJjgyllSh
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 2, 2022
“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.”
Source:livescore.com