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In what came as a surprise development for cricket followers around the world, star England all-rounder Moeen Ali decided to come out of retirement and join the Three Lions squad for the upcoming Ashes series against Australia. Ali, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2021, replaced injured Jack Leach in England's squad for the opening two Tests of the five-match series.
“We reached out to Mo (Moeen Ali) early this week about returning to Test cricket,” Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said in a release.
“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,” he added.
The 35-year-old Ali has played 64 Tests for England, scoring 2,914 runs and picking 195 wickets in the process.
Jack Leach injury
England will be without Jack Leach in the upcoming Ashes series against Australia, the England Cricket Board (ECB) had confirmed on Sunday (June 4). Leach suffered a stress fracture in his back, ruling him out of the all-important Ashes, slated to start on June 16.
"England Men's spinner Jack Leach has been ruled of the LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes series with a low back (lumbar) stress fracture."
"The 31-year-old Somerset slow-left-armer developed low back symptoms during England’s LV= Insurance Test victory over Ireland on Saturday. A scan on Sunday in London has revealed a stress fracture, which will keep him out of the forthcoming Ashes Test series, which gets underway at Edgbaston on Friday 16 June. England will announce a replacement for the Ashes series in due course," said the full statement.
Leach has taken an impressive 124 wickets in his 35 matches and has been England's frontline spinner in Test cricket since making his debut in 2018.
Ashes 2023 schedule:
First Test: Edgbaston, Birmingham June 16-20
Second Test: Lord’s, London June 28-July 2
Third Test: Headingley, Leeds July 6-10
Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester July 19-23
Fifth Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31
England squad for Ashes: Ben Stokes (c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Josh Tongue, Moeen Ali
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