England’s spin allrounder Moeen Ali made the “unretired” comment in June after new Test match head coach Brendon McCullum had asked for clarity from the player on his red-ball future for England. Now in another conversation between the two individuals, the experienced cricketer told the coach he is finished with Test cricket altogether.
The latest remark follows speculations about whether the player will return to Pakistan in December for a three-match Test series after leading a second-string side for a historic seven-match T20I series in his country of origin.
“That’s a trip I won’t be making sadly. It’s not something I’m keen on doing any more,”
the 35-year-old wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
He revealed he had an “honest chat” with McCullum and told him he doesn’t see himself commit to the idea of spending extra time in team hotels and undergo the hard grind of Test cricket again.
“Baz phoned me and we spoke at length and I just said, ‘Nah, sorry, I’m done’ and he understands. He knows the feeling,”
added Ali, who is an integral part of England’s T20 World Cup plans.
While Moeen said he is not completely retired from Test cricket at the start of the summer, he wrote he has realised he doesn’t anymore retain the mindset required for the five-day sport.
“Test cricket is hard work,”
he said, before declaring that his mental makeup won’t change even if Covid security restrictions were to be lifted come December in Pakistan.
“I’m 35 now and something’s got to give,”
added what is now officially a limited-overs specialist.
Moeen first announced his retirement from Tests in March last year upon his return from the Test series in India. Before that, the player took an extended break from the format after being dropped after a failure at the start of the Ashes 2019.
The Warwickshire cricketer ends his Test career with 2,914 runs and 195 wickets from his 64 matches.
