ECB doesn't know when Moeen will return to Test cricket, reveals Ed Smith
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England national team selector Ed Smith is unaware of when exactly Moeen Ali, who took an indefinite break from the longest format, will make his Test comeback. He last played a Test match in August this year, the first Ashes Test in Birmingham, after which he was dropped due to poor form.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali took an indefinite break from Test cricket after his diminishing run of form in the longest format. His last appearance in whites came in this year’s first Ashes Test against Australia, in Birmingham, after which he was left out of the squad for the remaining series.
On 21st September, Ali missed out on the list of England’s Central contracted players for the longest format. The same was confirmed by Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The 32-year-old has been an integral part of the England setup for quite a long time and was also a part of England’s historic 2019 world cup winning team.
"He asked to take a break from Test cricket at the back end of last summer and that is what has happened. At this stage, we don't know when he will return to being available for Test cricket but it's our hope that he does. We all know that Moeen is a talented and valued cricketer for England. But we don't know if and when that might happen," ESPNcricinfo quoted Smith as saying.
Yesterday, England announced their 17 member squad for the Test tour to South Africa which will be their first away series after the intervention of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
"I don't think it's ruled out and it's also by no means certain he will be available," Smith concluded.
England 17-member squad: Joe Root(C), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.Â
