"If Stokesy messages me again, I'm going to delete it": Moeen Ali confirms return to Test retirement

With a long India tour to come from January, and England in need of spin options, Moeen would have been welcomed into the group if he made himself available. But Moeen has already made his decision

Moeen Ali has confirmed he will return to Test retirement after the Ashes.

The allrounder answered a late SOS from England captain Ben Stokes in June, following injury to Jack Leach.

He went on to feature in four of the five Tests, battling through finger and groin problems, to finish with nine wickets in addition to 181 runs at 25.71.

^{Moeen Ali has confirmed he is going back into Test retirement [Getty Images]}

^{Moeen played four of the five Ashes Tests [Getty Images]}

Moeen had not played a red-ball game since September 2021, but by the end of the campaign had taken on the role of No.3 batsman as well after Ollie Pope suffered a shoulder injury.

With a long India tour to come from January, and England in need of spin options, Moeen would have been welcomed into the group if he made himself available.

Stokes said at the presentation after the game on Monday (July 31) that he would give the allrounder time "to reflect".

But Moeen has already made his decision.

"No, I know I'm done. If Stokesy messages me again, I'm going to delete it," he said, referencing the now-famous WhatsApp he received from the England skipper, which read: "Ashes?"

^{The allrounder is still available for England in white-ball cricket [Getty Images]}

^{Moeen finishes with 3,000-plus Test runs and more than 200 wickets [Getty Images]}

Moeen steps back into Test retirement with 3,094 runs and 204 wickets - one of just four Englishman to have completed the 3,000-200 double. 

And he does so having claimed three crucial wickets with a spell of incisive off-spin on day five at The Oval.

"That's me done. I really have enjoyed it, and it's great to finish that way," he said.

"I'm so glad I said yes to Stokesy, it's been an amazing experience that I'll never forget."

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