Moeen Ali admitted he would have forever rued turning down England’s Ashes SOS but the spin bowling all-rounder was adamant his Test career is now over.
Ben Stokes sent a text simply saying ‘Ashes?’ to Moeen, who responded ‘Lol’ having been unaware that England’s frontline spinner Jack Leach was out of the series because of a stress fracture in his back.
However, Moeen dutifully ended a red-ball exile spanning almost two years and defied finger and adductor injuries to make telling contributions, with a selfless move to bat at three helping him go past 3,000 runs while he also reached 200 wickets to become the 16th player to get to both milestones.
Even if he finished with modest batting and bowling averages of 25.71 and 51.44 respectively, Moeen was delighted to have featured in a 2-2 drawn series that will be remembered as one of the best ever.
He said: “It was daunting but I had nothing to lose, it was a free hit. I felt like I was bowling alright but the finger was the only issue. I wasn’t worried about the bowling.
“I would have regretted it later in life (had he not played in the series). I’ve never done well against Australia, I still don’t believe I’ve done that well but it was great to finish like this.”
Moeen’s experience in Asia, where he has taken 56 wickets in 14 Tests, may have made him a prized asset for England’s next assignment in the new year in India, where the pitches are typically spin-friendly.
But he has no intention of adding to his 68 Test caps despite enjoying his time under captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, who was rebuffed by Moeen about carrying on in the format.
He said: “There’s no way I’m going. That’s me done. They knew from the start. Baz (McCullum) asked me again but I said ‘no’.
“Test cricket is the best cricket, I wish I could rewind time. Although my career has been a bit up and down, I wouldn’t change it. I’ve loved it.”
While Moeen has never been known for his consistency, he was crucial to England’s series-levelling victory on the last day at the Kia Oval with three crucial wickets as Australia crumpled in a heap.
Derek Underwood and Graeme Swann may be ahead of Moeen’s 204 wickets among England’s spinners but the 36-year-old bests the pair with more dismissals at a better average in the fourth innings.
Indeed, his average in the last innings of 23.17 is only marginally worse than the late, great Shane Warne’s 23.14 although Moeen’s strike-rate of 40.2 is significantly better than the Australian’s 52.9.
Moeen said: “I’ve never felt like a proper spinner like those guys. I don’t overthink bowling on the last day. It’s ragging so I’ll try to get it spinning as much as I can.
“The bowling was always a fight. I have always loved the last innings, day five – it’s spinning, that’s when I’ve always bowled my best.
“The encouragement I got from Baz and Stokesy to go and bowl my best ball, through the gate and things like that, I think that brings the best out of me.”
Moeen walked off the field in his final Test on Monday arm-in-arm with Stuart Broad, who signed off from his record-breaking cricketing career in fairytale fashion with a wicket off his last ball.
Moeen said: “I was a little bit embarrassed to be walking off with a great. It proves the man he is. I was really reluctant but it was great.”
Moeen and Broad represent 50 per cent of the Englishmen who have amassed 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests – along with Sir Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff.
Moeen revealed the landmark was more significant for his father Munir, adding: “As soon as I got that milestone, my dad checked out. He wants me to do well but he checked out – he was just buzzing.
“It’s a great list to be on. It feels a bit weird. Those great names and me. Something is not right!”
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
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