Moeen Ali, who has been named in the Ashes 2023 squad, stated that Ben Stokes was the only England captain who could have convinced him to come out of Test retirement.

Notably, Moeen had called time on his Test career in 2021 following the home series against India, citing that he took this decision to prolong his white-ball career.

However, a one-word message from Stokes was all it took to bring the spin-bowling all-rounder back into England’s Test set-up.

“Stokesy messaged me with a question mark -- ‘Ashes?’,” Moeen told reporters on Tuesday (June 13).

Ali was approached by Stokes after first-choice spinner Jack Leach got ruled out of all five Ashes Tests against Australia due to back injury.

“Then the news came through and I had a chat with him,” he said. “That was it. It’s the Ashes. To be part of it would be amazing.”

Asked if there was any other captain who could have persuaded to return to Test cricket, Moeen replied: “Probably not, no.”

Moeen Ali has represented England in 64 Tests so far, claiming 195 wickets and scoring 2,914 runs with five centuries and as many five-wicket hauls.

While Moeen doesn’t have an impressive record against Australia in red-ball cricket, he is relishing the chance to be part of the 2023 Ashes series.

“The fact that it is the Ashes and it is such a big series, to be part of it would be amazing,” said Moeen.

England have played fearless brand of cricket in the longest format since skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum joined forces last year. They have won 11 out of their 13 Tests after adopting an ultra-aggressive approach to red-ball cricket.

“There are no question marks over any shots you play, which gives me licence to play a few more rash shots, I guess.

“Even with the ball, he is more on the aggressive side. I know I go for runs but Stokesy also knows there are some wicket-taking deliveries in between. That’s all he cares about,” Moeen concluded.

(With AFP Inputs)