England all-rounder Moeen Ali decides to retire from Test Cricket
Moeen Ali feels he was wasted but in a good way, announces retirement from Test Cricket
England All-Rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from Test Cricket on 27th September. The 34-year-old will continue to play white-ball cricket for his national side.
Moeen Ali said he had realized the exact moment to retire from Test Cricket. Even though he had a good game last time against India at Leeds, he found himself unable to concentrate. After he played the shorter format cricket, he no longer had time to flourish in Test Cricket. Ali says, “Couldn’t get in the zone anymore.”
After 18 months, he was back on the park again in whites against India in Chennai, and even though he made a successful return picking up eight wickets, England lost the Test match and Moeen was sent home by the ECB to manage his workload. He was finally featured in a Test match in England after two years when the selectors recalled him in the absence of allrounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes. His final Test appearance came against India at The Oval earlier this month.
Moeen discusses, “You try your best. I just found it hard to get in the zone bowling, batting, and in the field. And the more I tried, I just couldn’t do it. In the past when I came back into the team, it might take a bit of time but then I’m all in. But that series, I just couldn’t do it. “The atmosphere felt really good. It was rice to be back in the dressing room. But I just found cricketing-wise it was a bit of a struggle.”
Best of luck to the England all-rounder for the rest of his cricketing journey!