‘Sabko Afridi banna hai’ – Fans react as Moeen Ali comes out of retirement to replace Jack Leach in Ashes 2023 squad for England

After responding to an SOS from the team’s management, Moeen Ali has revoked his retirement from Test cricket and been added to England’s Ashes squad. In response to Jack Leach’s injury, which was discovered to be a lower-back stress fracture after scans were conducted after England’s 10-wicket victory over Ireland at Lord’s, Moeen told ESPNcricinfo on Monday night that he had been asked to explore a possible call-up.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder spoke with England’s captain, coach, and managing director, Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Rob Key, and the ECB confirmed on Wednesday morning that Moeen has decided to play Test cricket once more. For the opening two Ashes Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, he has been added to England’s lineup.

“We reached out to Mo early this week about returning to Test cricket. Having had a couple of days to reflect, Mo is excited to join the squad and play Test cricket again. His vast experience, along with his all-around ability, will benefit our Ashes campaign. We wish Mo and the rest of the squad well for the Ashes campaign,” Key was quoted as saying.

I think I would suit their cricket a bit more: Moeen Ali

Since announcing his retirement from Test cricket in September 2021, following England’s series against India, Moeen has not participated in any first-class match. He admitted to struggling to “get in the zone” during that series to ESPNcricinfo at the time, saying: “I just felt like I wasn’t in it.” However, Moeen has been more open to the idea of playing Test cricket since McCullum and Stokes took over a year ago. Last summer, he declared that he would “love” to play under the new management: “They are both very aggressive and I think I would suit their cricket a bit more.”

After speaking with McCullum, he seriously considered returning for England’s December tour of Pakistan, but ultimately decided against it because of the thought of having to spend additional time away from his family amid a hectic winter of white-ball cricket. With 20 wickets at an average of 64.65 against Australia, he has struggled in the past, but those statistics also include a demanding 2017–18 trip when England’s lack of talent for spin forced him to play all five Test matches despite ripping his spinning finger open on the seam of the ball early in the tour.

Here’s how fans reacted to Moeen Ali’s comeback as a replacement for Jack Leach in Ashes 2023:

Shahid Afridi 2.0

— CricKom (@Deepans23952324) June 7, 2023

One taklu out, another taklu in.

— Bheem (@Turbodrive15) June 7, 2023

Ee to sala hona hi tha

— Yash Sharma (@yashxharma) June 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/TheGreat_Gandhi/status/1666351007864086528

https://twitter.com/Prachu_shocks/status/1666354410908442624

Yeh bhrwe retirement lete kyu hai phir

— Shaurya (@Kohli_Dewotee) June 7, 2023

https://twitter.com/Iconic_Rohit/status/1666350233662676992