Moeen Ali reveals brief conversation with Ben Stokes before Test return

BIRMINGHAM: England spin bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali revealed his brief conversation with Test skipper Ben Stokes that lured him out of Test retirement and into the squad for the Ashes.

After first-choice spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of all five Ashes Tests against Australia due to a back injury, England captain Stokes’s one-word message was enough to convince all-rounder Moeen Ali to rejoin England’s red-ball lineup.

Consequently, Moeen can now play his first Test, since announcing his retirement in 2021, if gets picked in England’s Playing XI for the first Ashes Test, scheduled at Edgbaston, in his home city of Birmingham.

“Stokesy messaged me with a question mark — ‘Ashes?’,” Moeen told reporters here on Tuesday.

Moeen Ali claimed that he was unaware of Jack Leach’s back injury and assumed Stokes was kidding.

“Then the news came through and I had a chat with him,” he said. “That was it. It’s the Ashes. To be part of it would be amazing.”

Apparently, his growing friendship with Stokes — the duo were teammates in Chennai Super Kings during this year’s Indian Premier League — made the difference.

While responding to a question if any other captain could have lured him out of the Test retirement, Moeen Ali unhesitantly replied: “Probably not, no.”

Moeen also told the media here that he is thrilled to be a part of England’s quest for its first Ashes series victory since 2015.

“The fact that it is the Ashes and it is such a big series, to be part of it would be amazing,” said Moeen.

England have developed a force to be reckoned with in Tests since Ben Stokes and Brandon McCullum took the reigns of the side as they won 11 out of 13 matches and Moeen Ali also expressed his keenness upon being a part of the exciting brand of cricket.

“There are no question marks over any shots you play, which gives me licence to play a few more rash shots, I guess.

“Even with the ball, he is more on the aggressive side. I know I go for runs but Stokesy also knows there are some wicket-taking deliveries in between. That’s all he cares about.”

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