England all-rounder Moeen Ali has agreed to come out of retirement for the upcoming Ashes 2023 series against Australia and has been named in the squad for the first two Tests. Ali will replace Jack Leach in the squad, who has been ruled out due to a back issue.

Moeen revealed that he had been asked to consider a potential call-up following Leach’s injury, who suffered a lower back stress fracture. He held discussions with Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Rob Key - England's captain, coach, and managing director respectively - and the ECB announced on Wednesday morning that Moeen has agreed to return to Test cricket.

Ali, 35, who retired from Test cricket at the end of the 2021 summer, has reversed his decision and will look to add to his 64 Test caps. He has scored 2,914 Test runs and has 195 wickets at Test level. He will celebrate his 36th birthday during the first Test at Edgbaston on 18 June. 

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Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said: “We reached out to Mo (Moeen Ali) early this week about returning to Test cricket. Having had a few 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.”

The England party will report to Birmingham on Monday 12 June. They are due to practice at Edgbaston from Tuesday 13 June.

England revised squad for the first two Ashes 2023 Tests:

Ben Stokes (C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

(ECB inputs)