England Test captain Joe Root heaped praise on “underappreciated” Moeen Ali after the all-rounder announced his retirement from Tests on Monday (September 27).
Describing Moeen’s retirement from Test cricket as a “huge loss” to the England team, Root said the all-rounder will be remembered as a “wonderful role model” while lamenting fact that Ali didn't get the credit he deserved outside the team. Root captained Moeen in 27 of his 64 Tests.
The 34-year-old had made his Test debut in 2014, and scored 2,914 runs in 64 Tests at an average of 28.29, and picked up 195 wickets with his final match in whites came during a recent home series against India.
Calling time on his Test career, the off-spinner cited he had struggled to “get into the zone” and revealed his axing from ECB central contract and Ashes squad “did break him a little bit”.
As reported by ESPNCricinfo, Root said during a Zoom interview organized by the PCA: “First and foremost, it goes without saying that Mo's career speaks for itself and what he has achieved. He's done some wonderful things in Test cricket. He's been one of the great guys to play alongside.”
The skipper added, “I've thoroughly enjoyed sharing that dressing room with him and we've had so many wonderful memories, on the field and off the field. He's been a wonderful role model. I really hope that, off the back of what he has done and achieved at Test cricket, there will be so many young boys and girls out there wanting to follow in his footsteps because he's done fabulous things. The way he holds himself. The way he carries himself, the way he goes about things is fantastic. He leaves a legacy.”
He also said Moeen has been brilliant for England in Test cricket but did not get the appreciation that he deserved, though, he hopes the all-rounder will carry on his brilliance in limited-overs cricket.
Root further explained, “The one thing I will say is when Mo has played, he's been brilliant. You look at the number of games he has affected, the amount of special moments he has had on a cricket field in the Test match format has been exceptional.
I'll certainly remember a lot of amazing things that he has achieved. Of course, there might have been times we could have done things slightly differently, but I could say that about a lot of things. I think at times he has been underappreciated. Not within the dressing room but outside of that.”
He signed off by saying, “He'll be a huge loss. He's a great personality to have in and around the dressing room, and he's a great brain for younger players to learn from and to feed off. I just wish him every success in everything he chooses to do from now. Hopefully, there's a lot of cricket I can still get to play with him in the ODI side with England as well.”
(With ANI Inputs)
