If Stokesy messages me again, I’m going to delete it: Moeen Ali

After plenty of nail-biting cricket through the English summer, the intense battles between England and Australia finally drew curtains. While there are plenty of notable performances to talk about but there is one thing which has always been most crucial when it comes to Test cricket. Reason? Their importance in an exciting side like the English team especially on a Day 4 or 5 surfaces.

Consequently, speaking of the grand showdown at The Oval on Monday, July 31, the hosts were able to stop the Aussies from clinching a clear edge over them as the series concluded with a 2-2 result. However, the visitors were still able to retain the urn. But nobody can deny the importance of a spinner like Moeen Ali, who made his comeback to Test format for England in a rather dramatic fashion. While the series did not start well for the veteran, as he split the web off his fingers.

However, Ali took a three-wicket haul in the fifth Ashes 2023 Test when it mattered most, to help his side clinch a sensational 49-run victory on the final day. With this, the veteran spinner believes that he has bowed out on a high with the 68th Test being his last game for England. Notably, skipper of the home side, Ben Stokes, has sent an emergency text to the all-rounder after Jack Leach got ruled out with a lower back stress fracture which paved the way for Ali’s shocking return. The veteran off-spinner had last played the red-ball cricket back in September 2021.

“If Stokesy messages me again, I’m going to delete it. That’s me done. I really have enjoyed it, and it’s great to finish on it. It feels amazing,” Ali stated to Sky Sports.

I’ve never played that well against Australia, I still believe I can do alright: Ali

Meanwhile, reflecting on his journey before and after competing in ‘The Ashes’, Moeen Ali said that even though it took some toll on him to make his sudden comeback he had never performed significantly for his side against the Aussies. Hence, getting those important match-defining wickets surely makes it a special memory for him and he will cherish it for the rest of his life. With this Ali believes he has played his last game and will not want to respond to Ben Stokes ever again for any further service to England in the future.

“To come back was a little bit daunting actually, because I’ve never played that well against Australia. It was one of those things where, when Stokesy asked me, I thought, ‘why not? I’m going to go into a brilliant side and I still believe I can do alright'” Ali told BBC’s Test Match Special.