Overlooked for England’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia, Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from all international cricket. The all-rounder last represented England in their semi-final loss to India at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Guyana. Moeen Ali played all three formats for England after making his international debut in 2014.
Moeen Ali, the 37-year-old was part of the white-ball squads that won the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022. Moeen Ali first retired from Test cricket in 2021 but came out of retirement two years later for the home Ashes series against Australia, which England ultimately drew.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali played 68 Tests, 138 one-day internationals and 92 Twenty20s for England. The vice-captain in the white-ball team, he also led England in one one-day international and 12 T20s. Moeen Ali missed out on selection for England’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia.
Moeen Ali’s stellar international career in cricket
Moeen Ali made his white-ball debut for England on their 2014 tour of West Indies and went on to play 138 ODIs and 92 T20Is for the country in his 10-year career. When Sri Lanka visited England later that year, Moeen Ali made his Test debut at the Lord’s, and represented England in 68 overall. Moeen Ali finishes with 6678 runs, including eight centuries and 28 fifties, and 366 wickets for England across the three formats.
Over the last year, Moeen Ali was also in action at the IPL for CSK, a part of the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings and in the BPL with Chittagong Vikings. A stylish left-handed batter, Moeen Ali scored five Test and three ODI centuries. Moeen Ali also took 204 Test wickets, along with 111 in ODIs and 51 in T20 cricket for England. Moeen Ali’s final international appearance was against India in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in June, which England lost by 68 runs.
All-rounder Moeen Ali, believes Brendon McCullum is the right man to take the white-ball team forward as the head coach, adding the move will also help captain Jos Buttler.
Moeen Ali expresses his views on Brendon McCullum a positive side kick to Jos Buttler led white ball England team in 2024
All-rounder Moeen Ali, who announced his retirement from international cricket, believes Brendon McCullum is the right man to take the white-ball team forward as the head coach, adding the move will also help captain Jos Buttler.
Following Matthew Mott’s exit, McCullum was appointed to the role and will take charge from next year to be England’s all-format coach. “100 per cent. More than anything, it’s important for Jos Buttler, who needs the help McCullum can give him.
“Jos has a lot on his plate — captain, keeper, our best batsman. McCullum can take that away from him and make him enjoy it a bit more, because Jos can get down quickly,” said Moeen to Daily Mail.
Asked if he would have thrived had he played more Test cricket under McCullum and Ben Stokes, Moeen replied,
“Definitely. I’d have enjoyed it. There was a period, when I first retired from Tests in 2021, that I didn’t enjoy the way we were playing, or the way I was. It wasn’t as much fun. These guys just bring the fun. I was pretty level most of the time, but I didn’t always enjoy batting at No 8. I felt I was wasting my batting.”
In a decade of playing international cricket, Moeen Ali played 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20Is for England, amassing 6678 runs, and 366 wickets across all formats. He also signs off as a 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup winner.
Moeen Ali also described 2019 ODI World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan as the best skipper he has ever played under in his time as an England cricketer. “No doubt. Morgs was outstanding. I remember getting caught on the boundary soon after he became captain. I said to him: ‘I should have knocked it for one.’ He said: ‘Nah, next time it needs to go out of the ground.’ I thought: OK, this guy is interesting.
“I’m terrible if someone says don’t do this or that — I’ll end up doing it. He was outstanding at getting the best out of players. It was amazing to be part of that. That’s the sad thing about finishing with England, because I know they were the best days of my life,” he said.
Moeen Ali also became the first British Asian to captain England during a T20I against Australia in 2020. He signed off by saying it has been comfortable for him and leg-spinner Adil Rashid to be inspirational figures for British Asian kids to pursue cricket as a career.
“It’s something I never thought about much at first. I just played. And then you think a bit more about who you’re representing. Kids look up to you for inspiration, in terms of changing mindsets in Asian families.
“A lot of the time it’s about being a doctor or whatever, but cricket is an amazing career. There’s a burden as well, because you’re constantly being looked at. But even if only a couple of people out there were inspired by us, we can be proud,” he concluded.
Moeen Ali also said that he will continue playing franchise cricket, and could later see himself getting involved in coaching. Moeen is currently plying his trade in CPL 2024 with the defending champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors.