GEORGE DOBELL: After much consideration, Moeen has said yes; he is now set to return to the England XI next week, with the first Test of the 2023 Ashes campaign scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston
Moeen Ali is to make a dramatic return to Test cricket after accepting a request from England to bring himself out of red-ball retirement for the Ashes.
Moeen last played a Test in September 2021 and had announced he was stepping back from the format.
However, following injury to Jack Leach less than two weeks before the start of the five-match series against Australia, The Cricketer reported on Monday that England had made the call to the off-spinning allrounder to fill the void.
Moeen Ali celebrates a wicket on his most recent Test appearance in 2021, against India [Getty Images]
After much consideration, Moeen has said yes. He is now set to return to the England XI next week, with the first Test of the 2023 Ashes campaign scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston.
It is an intriguing move from the men most intricately involved in England selection - captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key.
They refrained from pursuing either of the spinners in whom they trusted in Pakistan over the winter - Rehan Ahmed of Leicestershire and Surrey's Will Jacks - and resisted the urge to plump for a more like-for-like replacement from the county game, such as Liam Dawson.
Moeen Ali in England Test action [Getty Images]
Moeen is likely to bat at No.8, extending the England line-up's batting strength. In a quirk of fate, it means the team will go into the Ashes with the same No.7-No.8 combination of Jonny Bairstow and Moeen with which they took on Australia in 2019.
He had been the subject of one previous attempt by England to tempt him back into the Test squad, for the tour of Pakistan in December.
Leach was ruled out of the series with a stress fracture in his back.
"We reached out to Mo early this week about returning to Test cricket," said Key. "Having had a couple of days to reflect, Mo is excited to join the squad and play Test cricket again. His vast experience, along with his all-round ability, will benefit our Ashes campaign.
"We wish Mo and the rest of the squad well for the Ashes campaign."
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