England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who played 298 international matches between 2014 and 2024, has announced his retirement from international cricket. Moeen’s last appearance for England was during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. For more information:
In an interview with former England captain Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail, Moeen said, “I’m 37 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 next generation. That was also made clear to me, so it felt like the right time. I’ve done my bit.”
“I still feel I can play, but I know the team needs to evolve,” Moeen added. “It’s about being honest with myself.”
However, he explained he was “trying to be realistic” about his international future, saying: “I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won’t.
“Even retiring, I don’t feel it’s because I’m not good enough – I still feel I can play. But I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It’s about being real to myself.”
Having made his reputation as a batsman, Moeen said he was “especially” proud of taking 204 Test wickets, adding: “I’m also proud of getting five Test hundreds.
“It’s only five, but it means a lot, especially when I was often down the order.”
As for his future, Moeen said he planned to continue playing franchise cricket, but would then like to stay involved in the game as a coach.
“Coaching is something I want to do – I want to be one of the best,” he said.
“I can learn a lot from (England coach Brendon McCullum).
“I hope people remember me as a free spirit. I played some nice shots and some bad shots, but hopefully, people enjoyed watching me.”
He was part of England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup-winning squads. His key performance in both bat and bowl contributes England’s team achieving the title.
Moeen made his international debut in 2014 against the West Indies, scoring 6,678 runs and taking 366 wickets. Although Moeen initially focused on batting, he developed his bowling to become England’s leading spinner in Tests, finishing with 204 Test wickets—third among England spinners, behind Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).
