MOEEN MIGHT BE ‘IN’ FOR ENGLAND
Ali discusses a possible Test return and what getting an OBE means
ALL-ROUNDER Moeen Ali has said he is open to playing Test cricket for England again under new coach Brendon McCullum.
The 34-year-old quit the long format last year with 2,914 runs and 195 wickets from 64 Tests but still has an important role to play in England’s white-ball sides.
Ali said McCullum, who was put in charge of the Test team last month, had sounded him out about a potential red-ball return.
“Baz (McCullum) messaged me asking if I was ‘in’,” Ali was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper, after being awarded an OBE for his services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last week.
“I have played with him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and really enjoyed the way he works. We spoke and he mentioned potentially, in the future... would I be available? I said, ‘call me at the time’. We’ll see. The door is open,” added the Worcestershire player.
England began a new era under McCullum and new Test captain Ben Stokes last week, when they beat New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s in the three-Test series
Ali said he was looking forward to see what happened with England under the new leadership.
“And even though it’s sad Chris Silverwood went as head coach and Root stepped down as captain, it’s always exciting when there is a new chapter,” he said.
Ali has represented England in 225 internationals across all three formats, amassing 5,4288 runs and picking up 315 wickets.
His efforts on and off the field have been recognised with the OBE. “It is obviously an honour and the more you think about it, the more you realise how nice it is and how rewarding it is,” Ali said.
“More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy and that’s the most important thing – [it’s] one of the main reasons for accepting. It’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy.
“I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been on, my background, my upbringing and all that,” he added.
“Maybe the way I played and the way I go about my cricket, maybe that’s what people have liked.
“From the word go, as soon as I played for England, people labelled me as being a potential role model. It is a big responsibility because you don’t want to let people down. But as time has gone on, you kind of accept it and deal with it a lot better. You kind of do inspire a lot of people, especially from the inner city.”
Ali’s fellow World Cup-winning spinner Adil Rashid also said McCullum had reached out to him.
“It’s always exciting when something new comes along,” Rashid told the Daily Mail. “Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes both like to be positive and attacking. That drives me and it’s very exciting.
“Brendon’s reached out to me – just a text to check how things are. I’ve not closed the door on Test cricket. I’ve not retired, or anything like that. It’s something that’s still there. It’s everyone’s dream to play Test cricket and I’m no different.”
Ali, who turns 35 this month, officially announced his retirement from Test cricket last year, while Rashid, 34, has not played a firstclass match for Yorkshire since 2017, and last played a Test match in early 2019 in the West Indies.