‘I don't look at it like a Test career, it is a free hit’ - Moeen Ali reflects on his Test return ahead of Ashes

With the much-anticipated Ashes series right around the corner, England and Australia would be keen on staying at the top of their games to claim the urn. Led by Ben Stokes, England recently announced that veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali will be coming out of retirement to be the replacement for spinner Jack Leach, who sustained a stress fracture in his back.

Ahead of the first Test of the Ashes that is scheduled to begin on June 16, Moeen Ali revealed how it was revealed to him that he would be coming out of retirement. The 35-year-old first revealed getting a text message from skipper Ben Stokes, which he thought was a joke at first.

Furthermore, Ali also stated that he would not have agreed to come out of retirement for the Ashes; however, the prospect of working under Stokes’ and Brendon McCullum’s leadership was too good to turn down.

"Just the fact that it's the Ashes and it's such a big series and the exciting cricket the guys have been playing," he explained. "It's a kind of era I'd have loved when I was playing [previously]. It's the Ashes: to be part of it would be amazing," Mooen Ali was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"When I retired I was done and that was the end of playing. But the unfortunate injury to Leachy meant I got a message and a call from Stokesy and Baz and Keysy [Rob Key]. So let's see what happen," he added.

It is a free hit: Ali 

Furthermore, Moeen Ali also reflected on how there is no pressure on him ahead of the marquee series. While stating that there is pressure of the occasion and the game, there is no pressure on him regarding his performance.

"I don't look at it like a Test career. It is a free hit. I'm not playing for my spot. There's no pressure, really. There is pressure of the occasion and the game, but I spoke to Baz (Brendon McCullum) and he said he's not bothered about how I perform, which is quite nice," Moeen Ali said

"As an individual, I want to do well and contribute to winning games. All the things I ever wanted to do in Test cricket I'm going to try to do in these games. It could be dangerous, it could be not so dangerous. We'll see," he added.