England all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket, citing the need to make way for the next generation of players. The 37-year-old, who played all three formats for England since his debut in 2014, believes “the time is right” to move on.

He announced his decision in an interview with Nasser Hussain in The Daily Mail.

Moeen was a key member of the England teams that won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022. He previously retired from Test cricket in 2021 but returned for the 2023 Ashes series against Australia, which England drew.

Throughout his career, Moeen amassed impressive statistics, playing 68 Tests, 138 ODIs, and 92 T20s for England. He also served as vice-captain in the white-ball team and led England in one ODI and 12 T20s.

His final international appearance came against India in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in June, a match England lost by 68 runs.

While Moeen expressed confidence in his ability to continue playing, he acknowledged the need for the team to evolve and embrace a new cycle. He emphasized that his decision was based on a realistic assessment of his place within the current squad.

Moeen’s retirement marks the end of a successful career for the off-spinner and stylish left-handed batter.

He leaves behind a legacy of significant contributions to English cricket, including five Test centuries, three ODI centuries, and a total of 366 international wickets.