Is Moeen Ali's England Test career over? All-rounder continues self-imposed exile from long-form cricket

Moeen Ali continued his self-imposed exile from Test cricket when he told England he did not want to be considered for the four-match series in South Africa starting on Boxing Day.

Joe Root, and selectors Ed Smith and James Taylor, all spoke to Moeen last week but failed to persuade him to change his mind leaving England with Jack Leach and the uncapped Matt Parkinson as the spinners in a 17-man squad.

It now looks as if Moeen’s Test career could be over and he will combine being a white-ball specialist for England with playing in franchise leagues around the world where his bowling and attacking batting will attract plenty of offers.

England remain hopeful Moeen will change his mind and will continue to stay in touch with him. “He asked to take a break from Test cricket at the end of last summer. At this stage we don’t know when he will return to being available for Test cricket but it is my hope that he does return to being available,” said Smith, the national selector.

“We all know that Moeen is a talented and valued cricketer for England but at the moment we just don’t know if and when that might happen. He did say that he thinks there are more Test runs and wickets in him and that was very encouraging. That is what we believe and we will be keeping in regular touch with him over the coming months.”

Moeen was dropped after one Test of last summer’s Ashes and then lost his central contract. Since then his value in franchise cricket has risen due to his increased availability. This week he signed a deal to play in the Pakistan Super League which clashes with the England tour to Sri Lanka in March. England will speak to him again about his availability for that series but it looks as though they will have to move on and invest in a younger spinner with tours to Sri Lanka and India over the next 18 months.

The England squad had a familiar look but the returning trio of experienced players all face questions marks about their futures. Jonny Bairstow is back but has to prove he has corrected technical faults exposed in Test cricket last year. James Anderson has not bowled in a competitive match since breaking down with a calf injury in the opening Ashes Test and at the age of 37 he has to prove in South Africa his body can still match the demands of international cricket. Mark Wood has not played since the World Cup final and has undergone surgery on his knee as he continues to battle his body. England do not expect him to be fit for the Boxing Day Test in Pretoria and he is unlikely to be available until the third Test in Port Elizabeth.

“Anderson has not completed a game since the injury but the evidence we see in front of us is very encouraging and he will be able to play full part in the tour,” said Smith. “Wood is progressing well but medical advice is now he will not be fit for the start of the tour but the hope is he will be available at some point in the tour. He has to be given time to recover and he has been advised to take his time and not rush or be reckless.”

Saqib Mahmood, the promising Lancashire bowler, is the only player left out who was on duty in New Zealand. Bairstow’s return gives England proper back up to Jos Buttler as wicket-keeper after he was dropped for the New Zealand tour, a decision that was exposed when Buttler missed the final Test with injury.

Bairstow’s Test career was launched in South Africa four years ago with his maiden hundred in Cape Town but a problem with being bowled crept in last year in Test cricket. He is currently in South Africa at a training camp, along with Anderson and Wood, working on correcting his problem.

“There was always a possibility he would return to the Test team sooner rather than than later. That is what’s happened,” said Smith. “Jonny has performed well across all three formats at various stages in his England career but his recent Test form has not been as good as in previous periods of time. He has used the time well. Jonny at his very best is obviously an asset to England cricket and the Test team and the message to him is very clear that if he is at his best and an opportunity comes he has to be in the best possible place to grab it.”