In order to fill in for the injured Jack Leach in the Ashes, Moeen Ali is considering an offer from England to leave his Test retirement and participate in the match.
BBC Sport is aware of After fellow spinner Leach was ruled out, captain Ben Stokes called 35-year-old Moeen.
Before quitting before the final Ashes series in Australia in 2021, Moeen, 35, played 64 Tests.
If he chooses to accept England’s invitation, he will join the team for the opening Test on June 16 at Edgbaston.
On Sunday, left-armer Leach, 31, was informed that he will not be playing in the five-Test series after a scan indicated a stress fracture in his back.
It deals England a serious setback. Since captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over last summer, Leach is the only bowler to have participated in each of the 13 Test matches.
Given the uncertainty around all-rounder Stokes’ bowling condition, he appeared poised to play a key role in the attack.
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England was left with little choices without him. Rehan Ahmed, a leg-spinner, just played one Test during the winter and is only 18 years old. Will Jacks, a batsman for Surrey, has two caps but prefers to bat over spin. Matt Parkinson, a leg-spinner, is unable to make Lancashire’s selection, while Liam Dawson hasn’t played in a test match in six years.
Although he hasn’t played in a red-ball match since his last Test in September 2021, there is evidence to suggest that Moeen is still England’s top spinner, making him the perfect substitute.
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Only two England spinners have more Test wickets (195), and his five hundreds would help the lower order by providing runs.
The Warwickshire player has previously declined an invitation to play in a Test match. He claimed to be “unretired” last summer but then declined a spot on the December tour of Pakistan.
Moeen was a member of the side that won the T20 World Cup in November and is still a part of England’s limited-overs lineup.
Even if Moeen decides to join the team, England may still choose to field an all-pace attack in the first Test, with Joe Root’s occasional off-spin serving as a complement.
Without a top spinner in their lineup, England has not triumphed in an Ashes Test since 2001.
Alastair Cook, a former England captain, said on BBC Radio 5 Live that Liam Dawson is “the like for like.”
“I would definitely choose him since he uses the same left arm as Jack Leach, and familiarity builds trust. However, I believe that England will pursue Moeen with greater vigor.
It’s a challenging task for Mo because he won’t want to disappoint Ben Stokes, but it’s a hefty ask. You must have a strong desire to participate in the battle when you are aware of the psychological damage that Test cricket and, undoubtedly, an Ashes series can do.
“He has felt like he has played all of his Test cricket in the last few years; the question is whether some time away has changed that.”
