ENG vs NZ 1st Test – Moeen Ali to come out of Test-Retirement? – England and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Moeen Ali has opened up on a direct chat with Brendon McCullum as he revealed he is willing to come out of Test retirement. Moeen Ali who plays only limited-overs cricket for England has opened up on the idea of return to the red-ball format after holding heart-to-heart conversation with new Test side head coach Brendon McCullum. Follow All ENG vs NZ 1st Test Live Updates and Score on InsideSport.IN.
- England take on New Zealand in the three-match Test series
- The series will kick start Brendon McCullum’s tenure as head coach of the Test side
- Moeen Ali will explore idea of a returning to Test team if there are positives signs
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: CSK star Moeen Ali’s HEART to HEART chat with new head coach Brendon McCullum, ‘willing to come out of TEST-RETIREMENT’
Moeen Ali exploring a return –
According to a source close to Ali, “He (Ali) respects Brendon immensely and would play for him. He’s always been committed to England and wishes to continue. He will assist when required.”
When it was put to him that Ali had retired from Test cricket, McCullum replied: “We’ll see. I’m sure if Mo wanted to, and was prepared to put the yards in to make it back into the side, then he’d challenge, no doubt.”
Moeen Ali’s Test record –
- Ali, who has taken 195 wickets with his off-breaks and scored 2,914 runs in 64 Tests, retired from the format in September 2021.
- Ali also felt he was misused at times by former captain Joe Root.
- However he now intends to make a comeback after speaking to McCullum about his future.
Close eye on other spin options–
- While Moeen Ali has been mentioned as one of the options for England, potential call-up for Adil Rashid is on the cards as well.
- A Test series against New Zealand will be followed by a Pakistan tour, while India also play a single Test match.
- The Pakistan tour will be a decisive one for McCullum and Ali and could see the veteran spinner make a comeback if all goes according to the plan.
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: CSK star Moeen Ali’s HEART to HEART chat with new head coach Brendon McCullum, ‘willing to come out of TEST-RETIREMENT’
McCullum’s first task against native New Zealand –
- Brendon McCullum’s first task will come in the first week of June as England take on New Zealand.
- McCullum will take on his native New Zealand in a three-match Test series.
- England are currently bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) and are almost certainly out of the reckoning to make the final next year.
- England’s task won’t be made any easy in the coming days as they will also take on India in the remaining Test of a five-match series.
New Zealand’s tour of England –
| Matches | Date | Venue |
| First Test | 2 to 6 June | Lord’s, London |
| Second Test | 10 to 14 June | Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
| Third Test | 23 to 27 June | Headingley, Leeds |
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: CSK star Moeen Ali’s HEART to HEART chat with new head coach Brendon McCullum, ‘willing to come out of TEST-RETIREMENT’
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