England all-rounder Moeen Ali retires from international cricket

England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who featured in 298 international matches from 2014 to 2024 and last played for England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, has retired from international cricket. Moeen believed that the time was right for him to bid national duties goodbye after understanding that he was no longer in consideration for the side’s future assignments.

“I’m 37 years old and didn’t get picked for this month’s Australia series,” Moeen Ali said in an interview with former England captain Nasser Hussain in the Daily Mail. “I’ve played a lot of cricket for England. It’s time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I’ve done my part.”

England are looking to rebuild themselves ahead of their upcoming white-ball cycle which features the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and Moeen’s call is in keeping with the bigger picture.

“I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won’t,” Moeen said. “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.”

Moeen made his international debut in against West Indies. He scored 6678 international runs and picked 366 wickets. He won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup. He concluded his career with 204 Test scalps, making him the third-best England spinner in the format behind Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).