England lose Moeen Ali for remainder of India series, third Test squad confirmed

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Moeen Ali will leave England's Test tour of India and will miss the rest of the series.

The 33-year-old made his first international red-ball outing for 18 months in the 317-run second Test defeat Chennai.

Ali took 8-226 and scored 49 runs during an impressive outing but he will return home for a pre-agreed window of rest. In Sri Lanka, the Worcestershire man contracted Covid-19, forcing him into an extended period in quarantine.

England had hoped to delay the allrounder's return due to his performance at Chepauk.

He is due to re-join the tour in time for next month's five-match T20 series, as is Jos Buttler who left the series after the first Test.

"It has obviously been a very tricky tour for him," said captain Joe Root. "Players who feel they need to get out of the bubble that has been an option and we'll stand by that.

"It wasn't a case of asking him to stay - it was a decision that he'd chosen. 

"You want as many of your players available for as long as possible but you also want them to be comfortable. He feels he wants to be at home with his family and we respect that.

"It has been a difficult tour and I think that it has reached a point where he wants to get out of the bubble. And that is absolutely fine. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for him."

England have confirmed a 17-man squad for the third Test in Ahmedabad which starts next week (February 24-28).

Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood, who are both currently in quarantine after missing the first two Tests, are included.

Jofra Archer and Zak Crawley have been nursing elbow and wrist injuries but are also under consideration to return.

Back in contention are also James Anderson and Dom Bess after they were rested for the second Test.

England's third Test squad: Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Images courtesy of BCCI

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