Off The Field

‘Always exciting when there’s a new chapter’: Moeen Ali open to make comeback in Test cricket under McCullum

Written by Mohan Sharma

Star English all-rounder Moeen Ali, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in September last year, is now open to make a comeback under new head coach Brendon McCullum. The 34-year-old left-handed batter and right-arm off break bowler, who has played in various different positions throughout his career, has featured in 64 Test matches and has picked up 195 wickets, in addition to 2914 runs at an average of 28.29, and scored five centuries.

“Baz [McCullum] messaged me asking if I was ‘in’,” he said. “I have played with him in the Indian Premier League and really enjoyed the way he works. We spoke and he mentioned that, potentially, in the future, if there is a tour-or whenever, really-would I be available? I said, ‘call me at the time’. We’ll see.”

“The door is open. It’s always exciting when there is a new chapter and you would like to be a part of it. We had the same after the 2015 World Cup – what role do you can play? In the white-ball stuff, it didn’t matter who was in the team or for how long, it was just making a difference for England. We’ll see,” he added.

Moeen’s last Test series was against India only last year, of which the fifth rescheduled Test will take place in Birmingham from July 1 this year. Ali was part of the English side in the second, third and fourth Tests but was only able to score 83 runs in five innings besides picking up just six wickets.

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Mohan Sharma