Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket with the 37-year-old declaring: “I’ve done my part.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the spin bowling all-rounder said the decision comes after he was overlooked for England’s forthcoming white-ball series against Australia.
The former Worcestershire captain said: “I’m 37 years old and didn’t get picked for this month’s Australia series.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket for England. It’s time for the next generation, which was also explained to me.
“It felt the time was right. I’ve done my part.”
Moeen played five games in the successful 2019 World Cup campaign and all six as England added the equivalent T20 crown in 2022.
The all-rounder left Worcestershire in 2022 having played almost 350 games for the side since joining in 2006.
After 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20s for England, Moeen said he still feels like he can compete at the highest level but was “trying to be realistic” about his international future.
“I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won’t,” he told the Mail.
“Even retiring, I don’t feel it’s because I’m not good enough — I still feel I can play. But I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It’s about being real to myself.”
Moeen is one of only five men to take 200 wickets and score 3,000 runs in Tests for England, the others being Ben Stokes, Sir Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad.
Reflecting on his international career, Moeen said he was “especially” proud of taking 204 Test wickets, adding: “I’m also proud of getting five Test hundreds.
“It’s only five but it means a lot, especially when I was often down the order.”
“I hope people remember me as a free spirit. I played some nice shots and some bad shots, but hopefully people enjoyed watching me.”
Plans for a grassroots cricket facility named the Moeen Ali International Cricket Centre to be developed at Waresley Park in Hartlebury were revealed in December last year.
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