Moeen Ali has been included in ENG's squad for the first two Ashes Tests against AUS

England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who retired from test cricket in September 2021, has been added to the Ashes squad for the first two tests after spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series. 

The 35-year-old all-rounder had said goodbye to Test cricket at the end of the 2021 season but has now been brought back after talks with captain Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and team managing director Rob Key. He has been included in the team in place of spinner Jack Leach. The 31-year-old Somerset slow-left-armer Jack Leach was ruled out of the Ashes earlier this week due to a hamstring strain. "Warwickshire spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali has been added to the England Men's Test squad for the first two Ashes Test matches against Australia starting at Edgbaston on Friday, 16 June 2023," said a statement from English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday.

Rob Key disclosed in a statement to the English Cricket Board, “We approached Moeen Ali earlier this week regarding his return to Test cricket. Responding a few days later, he is excited to join the team and play Test cricket again. His experience as well as his all-round ability will benefit our Ashes campaign. We wish Mo and the rest of the team all the best for their Ashes campaign."

The Hosts England will take on Australia on 16th June, Friday in the first Ashes test match. The first match of the five-match Test series will be played at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham, which is the home ground of Moeen Ali. The left-handed English batter recently won the IND T20 League title under the leadership of MS Dhoni with Chennai.

The Birmingham-born off-spinner has played 64 test matches in his career. While batting in 111 test innings of these matches, Moeen scored 2914 runs at an average of 28.29. During this, he scored 5 centuries and 14 half-centuries, in which his highest score was 155*. At the same time, while bowling during this period, he has taken 195 wickets at an average of 36.66. Moeen Ali will celebrate his 36th birthday during the first Test at Edgbaston on June 18.

England squad for first two Tests of Ashes 2023 

Ben Stokes (Captain), 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 and Mark Wood