England all-rounder Moeen Ali declares retirement from Test cricket

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from Test cricket, but will continue to play in limited-overs internationals.

Moeen, 34, scored 2,914 runs and took 195 wickets in 64 Tests, having made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2014.

He won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and is in England's preliminary squad for this year's T20 World Cup.

"I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket," Moeen said.

"I've enjoyed Test cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes and I feel like I've done enough of it and I'm happy and content with how I've done."

Moeen added that Test cricket was "better than any other format by far" and "more rewarding" when he was playing well.

The left-handed batter and off-spinner hit five centuries and took five five-wicket hauls in Tests, finishing with a batting average of 28.29 and a bowling average of 36.66.

Only 15 bowlers have taken more Test wickets for England and Moeen is ranked third among English spinners, behind Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).

In 2017, Moeen became the fifth-fastest player in terms of matches played to reach 2,000 runs and 100 wickets, also taking a hat-trick against South Africa that year to seal a series win at The Oval.

He was part of the 2015 Ashes winning side but struggled during the 2017-18 series in Australia and took a break from cricket after being dropped during the 2019 Ashes at home.

Moeen was not recalled to the Test team until the tour of Sri Lanka in January this year, but missed the two Tests after contracting coronavirus and spent 14 days in isolation.

He finally made his return in the second Test in India in February, taking eight wickets, before travelling home as part of England's rotation policy before the final two Tests.

He played three of England's four home Tests against India this summer before the fifth was cancelled because of Covid-19 concerns.

Had the fifth Test gone ahead, Moeen could have become only the 15th player in Test history to score 3,000 runs and take 200 wickets.