Ali was under-appreciated, admits Root SKIPPER’S TRIBUTE
Mo has done some wonderful things, he says on all-rounder’s Test retirement
I just want to wish him well for everything he has got coming up and the rest of his career.” Joe Root» England Test captain
England skipper Joe Root has said that allrounder Moeen Ali’s retirement from Test cricket was a huge loss for him as well as for “the group” for “so many different reasons”, and added that he was “underappreciated” for his efforts.
Ali, 34, who made his Test debut back in 2014 and went on to represent England in 64 Test matches, scoring 2,914 Test runs with his highest being an unbeaten 155, had said in a statement on Monday that, “I’ve enjoyed Test cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes and I feel like I’ve done enough of it and I’m happy and content with how I’ve done.”
Paying tribute to Ali, who is currently in UAE playing for the Mahendra Singh Dhoniled Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, Root said, “First and foremost, it goes without saying that Mo’s (Moeen) career speaks for itself and what he has achieved,” Root was quoted as saying.
“He’s done some wonderful things in Test cricket. He’s been one of the great guys to play alongside. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing that dressing room with him and we’ve had so many wonderful memories, on the field and off the field.”
Brilliant
Under Root, Ali played 27 of his 64 Tests. “There are a number of things I’ll look back on when I’m finished as captain, that I could look back on with regret that I could have done slightly differently. The one thing I will say is when Mo has played, he’s been brilliant. You look at the amount of games he has affected, the amount of special moments he has had on a cricket field in the Test match format has been exceptional. I’ll certainly remember a lot of amazing things that he has achieved,” he said.
“More than anything I just want to wish him well for everything he has got coming up and the rest of his career because he’s still going to go on and achieve so many great things, I’m certain of it. I think at times he has been underappreciated.”