Moeen Ali announces retirement from international cricket

England's Moeen Ali has officially retired from international cricket at the age of 37. The all-rounder, who last represented England in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, made the decision after he was left out of the upcoming series against Australia.

In an interview with former England captain Nasser Hussain, Moeen explained his reasons for stepping away from the international stage. 

"I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," Moeen said.

"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," he further added.

Moeen acknowledged that the England team is now focused on rebuilding ahead of major tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

"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," he added.

Moeen made his international debut in 2014 and has had a remarkable career. He played 68 Tests, 138 ODIs, and 92 T20Is for England, scoring 6678 runs and taking 366 wickets. His contributions helped England win both the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Known for his versatility as an all-rounder, Moeen excelled both as a batter and a bowler. While initially more focused on his batting, he became one of England’s top spinners in Test cricket, finishing with 204 wickets in the format. This achievement places him third on England's list of most successful spinners, behind Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).