Moeen Ali eyes return to Test cricket with England

After being sidelined for almost 18 months, Moeen Ali has nothing in mind but to make a Test return.

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After being sidelined for almost 18 months, Moeen Ali has nothing in mind but to make a Test return. Keen to rediscover his lost form, Ali has begun training with the England side at Cape town ahead of their tour of South Africa. The six-match tour, comprising 3 T20Is and 3 ODIS is pivotal for the English side. The T20I series is set to commence next week and the ODIs is set to start from the 4th of December. With the likes of Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Sam Curran set to fly home after the series, England need a well-balanced team.

Moeen Ali has represented England 200 times in total, across all three formats of the game. Although he feels that the management was a bit harsh on him, it is quite evident why. The English all-rounder hit only one century in 13 innings last year, failing to impress with his bowling as well. Furthermore, he only managed to warm the bench in IPL, justifying the team management’s decision. Ali, if picked, needs to impress the team management or things will be the same for the 33-year-old.

It's now or never for the 33-year-old

Ali admits that he does not have long left in international cricket. In order to earn a spot in this English side, he needs to buckle up his sleeves and be at his best. Times without cricket have been frustrating for Ali. It is for every cricketer. However, with a clear mind and a set target, Ali believes that he can still make it. He is seen practicing hard in the nets. All he needs is some game time to rediscover his lost form. There are opportunities knocking in the form of the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup, and the Ashes. It is upon Ali to take up these opportunities or leave them be.

With Adil Rashid looking doubtful to play against Sri Lanka and India, this could be the perfect opportunity for Ali. His previous endeavors in these countries corroborate the fact. In 2018, Ali took an impressive 18 wickets in 3 test matches. His bowling figures contributed significantly to England’s 3-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka. In 2016, Moeen Ali hit two centuries against India. He has 5 centuries in total in his test career. With such superb performances against such balanced teams, we could witness Ali’s revival finally.

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