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!”
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.
'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat
Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.
The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.
However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.
Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.
"No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.
"I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
"I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.
"Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."
However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.
"We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.
"We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.
"I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."
Sri Lanka breeze to series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka cruised to a nine-wicket victory over West Indies to seal a T20I series triumph.
With the series delicately poised at 1-1 heading into the final match on Thursday, Sri Lanka started with intent in Dambulla.
Maheesh Theekshana (2-19) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-24) led the charge as Sri Lanka skittled through the Windies' top order.
Rovman Powell's stubborn 37 and a contribution of 32 from Gudakesh Motie steered West Indies to a reasonable total of 162-8, but it was one well within reach of Sri Lanka.
Pathum Nissanka clipped seven fours and one six in a 22-ball 37 to get Sri Lanka's chase rolling at pace, before he was bowled by Gudakesh Mottie (1-31).
Yet the damage was mostly done, with Kusal Mendis powering his way to an unbeaten 68 and Kusal Perera plundering 55 from 36 balls to get the job done with the minimum of fuss.
Data Debrief: Perera closing in on Sri Lanka record
Perera is now just nine runs away from surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan (1,889) as the leading scorer in Sri Lanka's T20I history.
His efforts, combined with those of Nissanka and Mendis, saw Sri Lanka win for a fourth time in their last six T20Is at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, although this is the first time they have won at the venue in that run when batting second.
The Windies' miserable record in Asia has continued, meanwhile. They have won only one of their last 11 T20Is in Asia (L10), with that victory coming in the first match of this series. They have now lost 33 T20Is on the continent in total, with only Ireland (35) having lost more.
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