Moeen Ali confirms Test retirement, won't travel to India next year: 'I wish I could rewind time'

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has confirmed that he has retired from Test cricket. While confirming his retirement, the cricketer who took 204 wickets in 68 Tests and scored 3094 runs with five hundreds, added that he will not travel to India for a Test series in early 2024. England are scheduled to play a five-match Test series in India starting in January 2024. “There is no way I am going (to India). It is nice to finish like this. Test cricket is the best cricket. I wish I could rewind time,” Moeen was quoted as saying by the Guardian. Despite the fine record, Moeen accepted the fact that his Test career would have hit a higher note. “Although my Test career has been a bit up and down, I wouldn’t change it. I’ve loved it. I would have regretted (not accepting England’s recall) later in life. “It was quite daunting because I’ve never done well against Australia. I had nothing to lose — it was a free hit,” he said. The 36-year-old, though, has no plans to move away completely from cricket as he wants to concentrate on franchise cricket. Moeen has done well for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, while making his presence felt in other leagues like the PSL and the Hundred. “White-ball (cricket) is great. I love the leagues, but there is nothing better than playing against the best attack with a new ball in their hand. It’s a challenge,” he said. England gave a fitting send off to Moeen as he led the side out of the Oval with Stuart Broad, who had also announced his retirement after the fifth Ashes Test. Moeen said it was indeed nice of Broad to allow him to walk beside. “It proves the man he is. I didn’t want to do it and he said I had to. From the start, he was always amazing with me. I’ve always got on well with him and really pleased he’s finished the way he has,” he added. With PTI inputs