'I feel my batting was a little bit wasted' - Moeen Ali reckons he could've become an all-rounder like Ben Stokes in Tests

England all-rounder Moeen Ali announced his retirement from Tests on September 27 (Monday). He played 64 Tests for his country scoring 2914 runs and also picked 195 wickets. These are definitely decent numbers for an all-rounder but Moeen reckons he could’ve become as good as Ben Stokes had he got consistent opportunities at the top of the order in the longest format.

Moeen recalled the series against New Zealand in 2015 when he and Stokes both had done well. The southpaw used to bat at number six then while Stokes used to come at eight. However, the then Alastair Cook then spoke to him about promoting Stokes and Ali had to bat at number eight. Remembering the incident, Moeen Ali said that it was disappointing for him at that time.

“I just remember when we played New Zealand [at Lord’s in 2015] and Ben Stokes had that amazing Test (92, 101 & 3/38). I’d been batting at No. 6 and he was No. 8. I think I’d scored 60-odd in my last Test at No. 6 in Barbados. But Alastair Cook said, ‘look, I know you’re playing well, but we’re going to swap things around because we think Stokesy can do more.’ It was disappointing. I wouldn’t say I knew it was the right decision,” he said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

Stokesy turned out to be an amazing player, says Moeen Ali

Ben Stokes is currently one of the best all-rounders and Moeen Ali lauded the all-rounder for the same. But he felt that he could’ve been like Stokes had he got a consistent run at the top of the order. “Obviously Stokesy turned out to be an amazing player. But I sometimes feel, maybe, that could have been me if I was given a bit more of a run there. I would have loved to bat up the order more.

“I didn’t always have the temperament or the technique but I certainly feel if I’d been given a run somewhere for a while I’d have been fine,” the 34-year-old added. Moeen Ali regrets not getting enough batting time with England’s Test side and reckons he would’ve scored way more than 2914 runs in the whites for his country.

“I do feel like my batting was a little bit wasted. I could have done better than I’ve done. I feel like I could have scored more Test hundreds, for sure. I could have scored a lot more runs,” the all-rounder further said.