England all-rounder Moeen Ali revealed an interesting conversation involving him and head coach Brendon McCullum after the schedule of England’s tour of India in 2024 came out. The 36-year-old was un-retired from Test cricket after Jack Leach suffered a stress fracture to his back ahead of the Ashes 2023.

The all-rounder announced his retirement during the 2021-22 Ashes Series to prolong his career in white-ball cricket and to take up the opportunity to play in franchises league around the globe but Stokes persuaded him to come back for the Ashes tour. After the game, Moeen confirmed that he had played his last Test and wouldn’t be seen for England in the format again.

Speaking to the media after the conclusion of the 5-match Ashes series, Moeen Ali revealed that England coach Brendon McCullum asked him about being available for the away India series in 2024, for which he said that he is done in Test Cricket as he wants to finish the game on high and reckons that he has loved his career in the longer format of the game even it has a lot of up and down.

“They knew from the start, especially when those India venues came out! Baz asked me again when I had my day off on the second day. I said no. I’m not going [to India]. There’s no way I’m going. That’s me done. It’s nice to finish like this and be part of an amazing day.”

“Test cricket is the best cricket, I wish I could rewind time. Although my career has been a bit up and down, I wouldn’t change it. I’ve loved it. I would have regretted it later in life. It was quite daunting because I’ve never done well against Australia,” Moeen Ali said.

Moeen Ali played a pivotal role in the team’s success in the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup and has been an integral part of the team’s success under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy and will look to provide some vital contribution for his side in the White-ball format.

It Was Daunting, But I Had Nothing To Lose, It Was A Free Hit – Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali suffered a groin injury during his batting innings, as he could not play at his usual best after injuring himself trying to take a single during the game but returned to back to bowl in the final innings of the game to pick up three important wickets of Australia to win the game for the home side on the final day of the crucial 5th test.

“I still don’t believe I’ve done that well, but it was great to finish like this. It was daunting, but I had nothing to lose, it was a free hit. I had a call from Baz and Stokesy, I felt like I was bowling alright, but the finger was the only issue. I wasn’t worried about the bowling,” Moeen Ali added.

The 36-year-old has played 68 tests for England scoring over 3,000 runs and taking more than 200 wickets in the longer format of the game and he would look to continue playing for England in the white-ball format and is expected to play a crucial role in ODI World Cup later this year in India.