MoeenAli

Despite retiring from Test and first-class cricket in 2021, Moeen Ali was recalled to the England squad on the eve of the 2023 Ashes series following an injury to frontline spinner Jack Leach. 

Moeen Ali seemed destined to represent England from an early age, selected to play for his country’s Under-19s and the England Lions ahead of his call up to the one-day international and Test sides in 2014.

He led England’s Under-19s to the semi-finals of the 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Pakistan.

After starting his career with Warwickshire, he moved to Worcestershire in 2007 and immediately impressed, scoring 77 on debut.

Strong results in domestic cricket led to his ODI debut in February 2014 against West Indies and a Test debut followed against Sri Lanka in June.

Ali has five centuries to his name – with 155 not out against Sri Lanka in 2016 his highest score – he also has two ODI hundreds.

In recent times England have used Ali as their number one spinning option in Test cricket. He has amassed more than 100 Test wickets with best-bowling figures of 6-53 against South Africa.

In 2017 Ali became the first person in 100 Test matches to take a hat-trick at The Oval, a feat he achieved to secure victory against South Africa in the third Test to help England lead the series 2-1.