Moeen Ali taking break from red-ball cricket after "challenging" summer

The England allrounder will not be considered for the Tests against New Zealand and could miss the series against South Africa

Moeen Ali will take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket following England's hectic summer.

The 32-year-old has endured a troubling season and was dropped from the 50-over team prior during the run to World Cup glory in July.

Ali lasted one Ashes Test before being hooked from the team and took a "short break" from all cricket in August.

He returned to play two first class matches for Worcestershire and helped the team reach T20 Finals Day, and will be a key figure as the Rapids bid to retain their title.

But his Test future is uncertain after the 32-year-old informed director of cricket Ashley Giles he did not want to be considered for the longest format until further notice.

Though given a white-ball contract for the 2019-20 season, Ali has not been handed a red-ball equivalent as a result, after a gruelling summer for all involved with the English game.

England's squad for the two Tests in November will be announced on Monday, with Ali not considered for selection. He could also be absent for the series in South Africa which starts in December.

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"Moeen has actually asked if he could take a step back from red ball cricket for a while," revealed Giles.

"He is not retiring but he wants a break from Test cricket. It has been a challenging summer, a World Cup and an Ashes back-to-back has had a massive affect for many of these guys, psychologically as much as physically. 

"His experience in the first Test (against Australia at Edgbaston) wasn't a great one but that is cricket. He's been a great servant to this team and that is why I encouraged him to leave that option to come back. He might just need to freshener up but he has been a really good servant for this team.

"[There is] no timeframe. Sometimes it is just taking a break isn't it? With this summer an the whole noise around the World Cup and the Ashes it takes its tole. For Moeen to take a step back and have some time off is really important.

"For Moeen it is a time for him to refresh, spend some time with the family, work on his game and hopefully get better. We've got to support these guys to come back in."