England’s World Cup winner Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket, stating, “I’ve done my part.” The 37-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder explained that his decision came after being excluded from England’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia.
“I’m 37 years old and wasn’t selected for the Australia series this month,” Ali commented. “I’ve had a fulfilling cricket career with England, and now it’s time for the next generation.”
Following subpar performances in recent World Cups, Matthew Mott was dismissed as head coach of England’s limited-overs teams in July. Additionally, Ali and Jonny Bairstow, who collectively have over 400 caps for England, were not included in the squads for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against Australia.
Although Ali had previously retired from red-ball international cricket, he admitted the possibility of continuing in the national setup, where he participated in 68 Tests, 138 ODIs, and 92 T20s. Yet, he acknowledged the reality of his situation, saying, “It’s about being real to myself.”
Ali expressed pride in his career achievements, particularly his taking 204 Test wickets and scoring five Test centuries. He noted the significance of these milestones despite often batting lower in the order. Looking ahead, Ali plans to remain active in franchise cricket and aspires to transition into coaching.