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Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Moeen Ali retires with 64 Test caps for England, having scored 2,914 runs and taken 195 wickets; Ali will specialise in white-ball cricket for England, in county cricket for Worcestershire and domestic T20 tournaments

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Moeen Ali says he knew his motivation to continue playing Test cricket was not at the same level when he was recalled to the England squad to face India

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has retired from Test cricket.

The 34-year-old, who made 64 Test appearances after making his debut in 2014, leaves the game's longest format with 2,914 runs and 195 wickets, with his final caps having come in this summer's series against India.

Moeen, who is part of England's squad for the T20 World Cup later this month, intends to continue playing limited-overs cricket at both international and domestic level.

"When I got recalled into the Test series against India, while I was playing I kind of had the feeling that I'd pretty much run my race here and I'm done," Moeen told Sky Sports News: "Just the motivation and things like that weren't quite there as I would have liked.

"I'm super excited and there's still a lot of cricket for me to play and things to look forward to with two World Cups coming up back-to-back. I'm very excited and I've got a lot of cricket still left in me."

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England captain Joe Root says Moeen Ali will be 'a huge loss' to Test cricket and feels the all-rounder has been unappreciated at times, following his retirement from the format.

Moeen: I struggled mentally against India

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Moeen said that he had "struggled" mentally during this summer's Test series against India, which had helped him reach his decision to retire.

Having initially been left out of England's squad, Moeen was recalled for the second Test at Lord's and made his first home Test appearance since the 2019 Ashes.

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England lost at Lord's but levelled the series at Headingley, before India won at the Oval - in a game for which Moeen was named vice-captain to Joe Root - to take a 2-1 lead. The fifth Test at Old Trafford was then postponed due to coronavirus concerns among India's squad.

Moeen Ali celebrates the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane
Image: Moeen took six wickets in three matches against India this summer

"I felt like I was done, to be honest," Moeen said. "I was hoping to play the last Test - there were a couple of milestones I wanted to pass - but once that (Old Trafford) game got called off, I realised that was it.

"Headingley was a great win but I just found I couldn't concentrate. I've played rash shots before and had poor games before. But I just felt like I wasn't in it. I've never felt that before. It's not that I didn't want to perform, I just didn't feel like I was fully wholeheartedly into it.

"You try your best. I just found it really 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 really nice to be back in the dressing room. But I just found cricketing-wise it was a bit of a struggle."

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Moeen dismisses India captain Virat Kohli during this summer's Test series

Moeen, who admits he was tempted by the prospect of this winter's tour of Australia, also explained how the ECB's decision not to give him a central contract following his dropping during the 2019 Ashes ultimately hastened his exit from Test cricket.

Moeen played the first Test against Australia two years ago at Edgbaston before taking a break from all forms of cricket after he was omitted for the second match of the series. He didn't return to England's Test side until their tour of India at the beginning of this year.

"And then I didn't get a contract," Moeen said regarding 2019. "I had asked for a break and was told it was because they weren't sure how much I was going to play. It was very disappointing at the time. So I looked to crack on and play franchise cricket.

"But then it possibly took too long to make my way back into the team. I didn't play enough first-class cricket and by the time I did get back into the team for that one Test in Chennai, I was on a different path.

"I don't think I lost interest in Test cricket but I think I lost the ability to do it as best as you can.

"There was part of me thinking about the Ashes this winter. I would have loved to go back and do well because last time I didn't do so well. But I just felt like I couldn't do it for that long. It's such a long trip if I'm not 'in it'. If I felt like I did in India when I was out there, then I would probably retire after one match. So it's done."

'I want to inspire anyone who feels out of place'

Moeen, a highly popular figure with England supporters throughout his Test career, says he hopes that he has inspired people not to be put off cricket because they feel "different or a bit out of place".

While there have been several Muslim players to represent England before Moeen, his proud and open display of his faith has been a notable element of his career.

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Moeen starred for the Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred earlier this summer

"I feel like I've played a role definitely," Moeen told Sky Sports News. "Not just for the British Muslim community, for anybody really who feels maybe slightly different or a bit out of place.

"Hopefully I've inspired somebody or some people out there to take up the game or just be inspired in any other way would be fantastic. And I feel like then I've done my job and I'd be really happy with that."

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