Moeen Ali returning to Test cricket

Moeen Ali, the offspinning allrounder, is returning to Test cricket.

Moeen, 35, retired from the format at the end of the 2021 summer.

He amassed 67 Test caps, scoring 2914 runs and taking 195 wickets at an average of 36.66.

His decision to step away from the format came with a view to focusing solely on limited-overs cricket, believing his race had been run in long-form cricket, partly because of issues with his spinning finger.

His final Test, against India at the Oval in September 2021, was also his last first-class match.

Recently, he confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he has been approached by the England management to answer a mayday call after Jack Leach was ruled out of the five-match series with a back stress fracture.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo during the IPL, Moeen said he believed his bowling was returning to something close to his best after falling away since his Test retirement. He took nine wickets at 21.66 during the tournament.

“I actually feel like there's things I've been missing over the last couple of years," he said. "I've just started to get it back again: a bit of rhythm in my action.

"When I was playing Test matches, I always felt like I was bowling well in white-ball cricket. You can kind of lose that rhythm, I guess. I think I've got to have that mindset of still bowling with that same energy as I would have done in Test matches."