Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
tiger76
Posts: 25697
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:43 pm
Been Liked: 4644 times
Has Liked: 9849 times
Location: Glasgow

Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by tiger76 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:14 am

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/58701999

He will continue to play white ball cricket for England, and he will be missed from the test side, but his stats over the past 3/4 years haven't been as good as the earlier part of his career.

The bigger question is who replaces him, there's not many obvious contenders in the spin department for England, plus he contributed vital runs batting mainly at 7 if I recall, 5 test centuries isn't too shabby for someone coming in down the order, and England's 3rd highest wicket taker as a spinner, behind only Underwood and Swann.

LeadBelly
Posts: 4178
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:07 am
Been Liked: 1000 times
Has Liked: 2044 times
Location: North Hampshire

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by LeadBelly » Mon Sep 27, 2021 5:05 pm

Moeen is a very decent and likable man so I wouldn't question his decision or motives at all, however, this is very bad timing. If he'd have done this at the start of the summer season, England could've given a different spinner some game-time over the tests in preparation for Australia. Leach was, prior to this summer, England's number 1 spinner but he never played for England over the summer as Moeen was selected.
No sort of preparation for the upcoming tour of Australia (IF it goes ahead).

Moeen has had a very decent career with England but it's fizzled out a bit over the past couple of years so it probably was time for him to go. Who will replace him for Oz? It looks like Root/Silverwood dont have much faith in Leach (and would he want to put himself through it after the way he's been treated?) so maybe Bess again or Crane? Parky might be considered but I doubt he'll get the nod from Root/Silverwood.

SalisburyClaret
Posts: 4077
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:32 pm
Been Liked: 1104 times
Has Liked: 709 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by SalisburyClaret » Mon Sep 27, 2021 5:52 pm

His form fluctuated a lot but he’ll be a big miss. Has to be Leach to replace him from a bowling point of view you’d think

Burnley1989
Posts: 7346
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:19 am
Been Liked: 2275 times
Has Liked: 2154 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by Burnley1989 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:25 pm

I really do fear for our test side in Australia, not that Ali would have made much difference to be fair

TheFamilyCat
Posts: 10843
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:56 pm
Been Liked: 5521 times
Has Liked: 208 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by TheFamilyCat » Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:38 pm

Genuinely shocked to read that he's our third highest wicket taking spinner. Guess it just highlights the difficulty we have had finding good spinners over the years.

CleggHall
Posts: 3274
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:07 am
Been Liked: 838 times
Has Liked: 1044 times
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by CleggHall » Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:18 am

Around 3000 runs and 200 wickets says it all, a very decent, capable test cricketer who was not always treated well by England.
This user liked this post: AfloatinClaret

burnley007
Posts: 2541
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:49 am
Been Liked: 630 times
Has Liked: 667 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by burnley007 » Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:14 am

Our bowlers are generally of an age, we need a new superstar soon!

Quickenthetempo
Posts: 17917
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:35 am
Been Liked: 3842 times
Has Liked: 2065 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by Quickenthetempo » Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:39 am

A bit of a maverick who got some good players out and some very fine innings.

Not one you could rely on though, especially when it got mentally tough.

A bowling average of 36 and batting average of 28 shows he was a little below par to be a specialist in either field but to play 60odd Test matches you have to do something right.

Lets hope he enjoys the rest of his white ball career.

Petersa
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:33 am
Been Liked: 201 times
Has Liked: 133 times
Location: South Africa

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by Petersa » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:26 am

In my cricket watching life Moeen was one of only six proper all rounders to play for England IMHO. That is someone who could be selected for either batting or bowling on merit if they werent good enough at the other. The others...Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Lewis and Ben Stokes.

Quickenthetempo
Posts: 17917
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:35 am
Been Liked: 3842 times
Has Liked: 2065 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by Quickenthetempo » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:37 am

Petersa wrote:
Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:26 am
In my cricket watching life Moeen was one of only six proper all rounders to play for England IMHO. That is someone who could be selected for either batting or bowling on merit if they werent good enough at the other. The others...Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Lewis and Ben Stokes.
To be a genuine all rounder you have to have a better batting average than you do bowling average. To be a good one and get in the team as a batter on their own merit would mean a batting average over 30.

Chris Woakes is very close with 27 bat and 28 bowl.

TheFamilyCat
Posts: 10843
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:56 pm
Been Liked: 5521 times
Has Liked: 208 times

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by TheFamilyCat » Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:42 pm

Petersa wrote:
Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:26 am
In my cricket watching life Moeen was one of only six proper all rounders to play for England IMHO. That is someone who could be selected for either batting or bowling on merit if they werent good enough at the other. The others...Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Lewis and Ben Stokes.
Chris Lewis?!

Petersa
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:33 am
Been Liked: 201 times
Has Liked: 133 times
Location: South Africa

Re: Moeen Ali: England all-rounder retires from Test cricket

Post by Petersa » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:05 pm

Thought that would reel someone in! I do stand by my opinion though, Moeen has been selected as an opening bat and No 3. I accept his recent matches have been disappointing but at his best a genuine all rounder. Chris Lewis did underachieve for his ability but certainly had the talent. England have though a history of selecting too many "all rounders" who werent good enough at either, basically going in with 10 men plus a fielder. IMHO of course.

Post Reply