Moeen Ali announces retirement from Test cricket
London(PTI): England's spin bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali on Monday announced retirement from Test cricket to prolong his career in white-ball formats, saying he is "content" despite the widespread belief that he could have achieved a lot more.
The 34-year-old leaves the Test arena with 2,914 runs in 64 matches at an average of 28.29.
Besides his five centuries with the bat, Ali has taken 195 wickets with his off-spin bowling at an average of 36.66 since his Test debut in 2014.
"I'm 34 now and I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket," Ali said.
"Test cricket is amazing, when you're having a good day it's better than any other format by far, it's more rewarding and you feel like you've really earned it."
Ali had already informed his England captain Joe Root and head coach Chris Silverwood of his decision.
"I will miss just walking out there with the lads, playing against best in the world with that feeling of nerves but also from a bowling point of view, knowing with my best ball I could get anyone out.
"I've enjoyed Test cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes and I feel like I've done enough of it and I'm happy and content with how I've done."
Ali, who has not played a lot of Test cricket since the 2019 Ashes, was recalled for the recent home series against India. He was apparently not comfortable with the thought of staying away from family for extended periods.
He had made up his mind even before the COVID-19 protocols were shared with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the Ashes tour to Australia.
According to a press release issued by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Ali hopes that his Test career will inspire and open the door for other British Muslims to play for England.
"It always takes somebody to inspire you or takes somebody to think if he can do it I can and I hope there are a few people out there who are thinking that.
"I know he wasn't English but someone like Hashim Amla, when I first saw him, I thought if he can do it I can do it, it does take that little spark.
"I'd love one day in 8-10 years' time to say Moeen made it easier for me. There have been guys before me who made it easier, so you hope to open the door for someone else."
He is currently in the UAE, playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Ali will continue playing white-ball cricket for England, county cricket for Worcestershire and domestic Twenty20 tournaments.
He remains a part of England's plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman.
Only James Anderson and Stuart Broad took more Test wickets for England in Ali's time in the side, with the spinner the 12th greatest wicket-taker globally in that period.
As a spinner, his finest period came between 2017 and 2019. In 2017, he took 26 wickets at 15.64 against South Africa, claiming a famous hat-trick at the Oval. The following summer he collected 32 wickets across six Tests on tour against West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Ali was on the verge of becoming only the 15th player in Test history to score 3,000 runs and claim 200 wickets when the fifth Test against India was cancelled owing to COVID-19 threat.
Playing at every position from No.1 to No.9, it was with the bat that Ali first earned national selection and in 2016 he showed why so many experts rated him highly, making 1078 runs at 46.86 for the calendar year.
Four of his five career centuries came that year as he climbed to a career-high third on the ICC Test all-rounder rankings.
Ali thanked his coaches, captains and all of his family for their support during his Test career.
"I have to thank Peter Moores and Chris Silverwood for being my coaches and Peter for giving me my debut. Cookie and Rooty as the captains who I've enjoyed playing under and I hope they are happy with how I played.
"My parents are my number one, I feel without their support there is no way I would have made it, every game I played was for them and I know they are really proud of me."
The spin bowling all-rounder added, "My brothers and my sister, on my bad days they've been the first to pick me up and my wife and kids, my wife's sacrifices and the patience she has, I am really grateful for that.
"They have all been amazing on my journey, everything I did I did for them."
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
