England have added Moeen Ali to their squad for the first two Ashes Tests against Australia, starting at Edgbaston on Friday 16 June live on Sky Sports; Moeen retired from Test cricket in September 2021 and has not played first-class cricket since
Wednesday 7 June 2023 16:44, UK
Moeen Ali has come out of Test retirement to take his place in England's Ashes squad as a replacement for the injured Jack Leach.
Moeen quit the international red-ball game almost two years ago but has agreed to return for the Australia series after fellow spin bowler Leach was ruled out with a stress fracture of the lower back.
The 35-year-old has been added to England's squad for the first two Tests and now looks likely to play in the opening game at Edgbaston from Friday June 16 in what would be his first red-ball appearance since September 2021.
"We reached out to Mo (Moeen Ali) early this week about returning to Test cricket," said Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket.
"Having had a couple of days to reflect, Mo is excited to join the squad and play Test cricket again. His vast experience, along with his all-round ability, will benefit our Ashes campaign.
"We wish Mo and the rest of the squad well."
Off-spinner Moeen has a poor Test record against Australia with the ball - his average of 64.65 in 11 matches versus the Baggy Greens is significantly higher than his career Test bowling average of 36.66.
However, he brings a total of 195 wickets and over 2,900 runs from 64 Tests to an England side aiming to win The Ashes for the first time since 2015.
Other options for England included 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks, both of whom played in Pakistan over the winter, as well as left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, who last featured in Test cricket in 2017.
Speaking on Monday, after Leach was injured but before Moeen was called up, England seam bowler Stuart Broad said: "We know Mo is a phenomenal cricketer.
"He is someone who would fit into [captain Ben] Stokes and Baz's [head coach Brendon McCullum's] philosophy beautifully. He's a mighty fine cricketer."
Moeen was sounded out for a comeback by McCullum ahead of the 3-0 series sweep in Pakistan but opted to stay in retirement at that stage.
This time, though, an Ashes series has proved too enticing to turn down.
Sky Sports Cricket's Nasser Hussain speaking to Sky Sports News:
"In the last couple of years of Moeen's Test match career, his average was absolutely fine - he's a very, very good cricketer.
"There are worries that he's not played a lot of first-class cricket. He didn't even bowl that much in the IPL - he's been playing a lot of white-ball cricket but mainly as a batter who has bowled a little bit.
"It is a little bit of a kick in the teeth to some of the other spinners playing county cricket, but this is the Ashes, and you do what's best to win the five Test matches. He's going back to Edgbaston, a ground he knows well, he loves, and that crowd will get right behind him.
"It is probably blow for Rehan Ahmed as well, who got five-for on debut in Pakistan, but I think England just want a more experienced spinner, someone who can give them control in the first innings and bowl some quality spin in the second."
After the Edgbaston Test, England will face Australia at Lord's (June 28-July 2), Headingley (July 6-10), Emirates Old Trafford (July 19-23) and The Kia Oval (July 27-31).
England have won 11 of 13 Tests under Stokes and McCullum after managing a solitary victory in 17 games prior to their appointments as captain and coach respectively.
England squad for first two Ashes Tests: Ben Stokes (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Watch The Ashes live on Sky Sports Cricket from Friday June 16 or follow the series across Sky Sports' digital platforms.
