England cricket star Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from Test cricket as he plans to shift his attention to white-ball cricket. The 34-year-old all-rounder had reportedly conveyed his decision to skipper Joe Root and the head coach and national selector, Chris Silverwood.
Moeen said in a statement, “I’m 34 now and I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket.
“Test cricket is amazing, when you’re having a good day it’s better than any other format by far, it’s more rewarding and you feel like you’ve really earnt it.
“I will miss just walking out there with the lads, playing against best in the world with that feeling of nerves but also from a bowling point of view, knowing with my best ball I could get anyone out.”
“I’ve enjoyed Test Cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes and I feel like I’ve done enough of it and I’m happy and content with how I’ve done.”
Moeen is currently playing in the IPL, representing Chennai Super Kings, which signed him for more than Rs. 7 crore in the last auction.
Whilst Moeen has been contemplating his Test future for quite some time, he’s believed to have made up his mind to call it quits after the England and Wales Cricket Board received details on quarantine and living conditions for the Ashes tour to Australia on Friday.
A report by Guardian said that both Root and Silverwood were sympathetic to Moeen’s decision as they said that the latter was an integral part of the setup looking to win the T20 World Cup before the Ashes tour.
Moeen represented England in 64 Test matches, scoring 2,914 runs including five centuries and 14 half-centuries. Four of that centuries came in 2016 when the player looked in stunning form.
As a bowler, he also claimed 194 wickets. He was at his best in 2017 when he picked up 25 wickets in four Test matches against South Africa.
He was promoted to the vice-captaincy role during the just-concluded Test tour of India. Had the fifth Test match not been cancelled, Moeen may have achieved a milestone of 200 wickets and 3,000 runs in Test cricket. This would have allowed the champion player to join the exclusive club of Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Garfield Sobers.
Moeen had reached the landmark of 100 wickets and 2,000 runs in Test cricket by playing fewer matches than the likes of Botham, Khan and Sobers.
As expected, fans have been paying rich tributes to Moeen as he plans to say goodbye to Test cricket.
Goodbye Moeen Ali. Thanks for the memories. pic.twitter.com/wkSqLoo5X6
— Simon Weaver (@mithril1005) September 26, 2021
Greatest memory of Moeen Ali in whites
The sheer resilience of the man, the sheer ruthlessness of the sport, the sheer heartbreak for every england cricket fan. All clubbed together
Mo retiring from Tests is good for elongating his career but what’s gotta hurt, just simply does pic.twitter.com/l25k0q2iAZ
— Sritama Panda (@cricketpun_duh) September 26, 2021
Happy Retirement Moeen Ali ❤️ Here's Moeen Ali taking a wicket bowling medium pace in the County Championship ???????? #MoeenAli #CSK pic.twitter.com/o46PutHeh9
— Pulkit Moonat (@am_pulkit) September 27, 2021
Only 14 players in the history of Test cricket have 3000+ runs and 200+ wickets. Moeen Ali announces retirement when he was so close to joining this elite list. #Cricket https://t.co/mSoLLLojrS
— Cow Corner (@CowCorner183) September 27, 2021
Sad to hear that he retiring from test… #MoeenAli #Eng will miss him badly.. pic.twitter.com/jOMwf2HSbJ
— Dhanus kumar (@editor_dhanus) September 27, 2021