New Delhi: English cricketer Moeen Ali has retired from Test cricket, for the second time. Earlier in June, the latter had revealed that he had ‘unretired’ from the longest format of the game post a conversation with the new head coach, Brendon McCullum.
Ali had announced his retirement from the format last year in September, citing the reason that he wasn’t “fully wholeheartedly into it”.
After leading his squad to mark a win against Pak by 4-3 just a few days ago, the 35-year-old confirmed via his newspaper column that he would not be returning for the scheduled Test series in December.
“I’ve had an honest chat with Baz (McCullum) and I can’t see myself being stuck in hotels for another month and playing to the best of my ability”, Moeen wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“Baz phoned me, we spoke at length and I said, ‘Sorry, I’m done. He understands, he knows the feeling. Test cricket is hard work. I’m 35 and something’s got to give”.
“I want to enjoy my cricket and it wouldn’t be fair to reverse my decision and then struggle to give it my all. It’s time to close the door on that side of my career. To play 64 tests for England has been a privilege and a dream fulfilled”, he added.
For the unknown, Moeen has captained England for several T20 matches in the absence of Jos Buttler owing to an injury.