England Cricketer Moeen Ali Says Bye to International Cricket

Moeen Ali, the England all-rounder, has announced his retirement from international cricket after being overlooked for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia. The 37-year-old, who last played for England in their semi-final loss to India in the 2024 T20 World Cup, revealed that it felt like the right time to step away from international duty.

Speaking in an interview with *Daily Mail*, Moeen reflected on his journey, stating, “I’m 37 now and wasn’t selected for the Australia series this month. I’ve played a lot of cricket for England, and it’s time for the younger players to step up. It was explained to me, and I knew it was the right moment. I’ve done my bit.”

Moeen made his debut for England in 2014 during their West Indies tour, marking the start of a decade-long career in which he became an integral part of the national side. He played 138 ODIs and 92 T20Is, while also making 68 Test appearances after his debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s the same year. Over his career, Moeen accumulated 6,678 runs with eight centuries and 28 half-centuries, alongside 366 wickets across formats.

Reflecting on his career, Moeen expressed pride in his accomplishments. “When you first play for England, you never know how many games you’ll get. To have played nearly 300 is something I’m really proud of. My early years were dominated by Test cricket, which was tough but proper cricket. Then, when Eoin Morgan took charge of the white-ball team, it became more enjoyable.”

Moeen admitted that while he still feels capable of playing at the international level, he understood the need for the team to evolve. “I could try and hold on for another chance with England, but I know deep down that it’s time for the next cycle. It’s about being honest with myself. I believe I’ve still got the ability, but it’s time to be realistic.”

As he retires from international cricket, Moeen shared his hope that his contributions to England would be remembered fondly. “People often forget the small but important impacts in games — even scoring 20 or 30 runs can make a big difference. I know what I brought to the team both on and off the field. I just hope people enjoyed watching me play, regardless of whether I succeeded or not.”

Looking ahead, Moeen confirmed that he will continue playing franchise cricket, and expressed interest in pursuing a coaching career. He is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the defending champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors. “I still enjoy playing, so I’ll do a bit of franchise cricket. But coaching is definitely something I want to focus on in the future. I want to be one of the best coaches and learn from people like Brendon McCullum.”

In recent times, Moeen has been a familiar face in franchise leagues, including the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with Chittagong Vikings.

Moeen’s retirement from international cricket marks the end of a career filled with memorable contributions, but his presence in the cricketing world will continue through franchise leagues and potential future coaching roles.