Moeen Ali facts for kids
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Moeen Ali during the 2017/18 Ashes
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name |
Moeen Munir Ali
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| Born | 18 June 1987 Sparkhill, Birmingham, England |
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| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Kadeer Ali (brother) Kabir Ali (cousin) |
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| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 662) | 12 June 2014 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 27 July 2023 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 232) | 28 February 2014 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 11 November 2023 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 18 (formerly 57) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 66) | 11 March 2014 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 27 June 2024 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 18 (formerly 57) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006, 2023–present | Warwickshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2022 | Worcestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Chennai Super Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–present | Birmingham Phoenix | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Comilla Victorians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Guyana Amazon Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 20 July 2024
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Moeen Munir Ali OBE (born 18 June 1987) is a famous English cricket player. He used to be the vice-captain for the England team in shorter cricket games. Moeen played for England from 2014 until 2024.
In England, he plays for Warwickshire. Before that, he played for Worcestershire. He has also played in many Twenty20 leagues around the world. Moeen made his first appearances in all three types of cricket games in 2014. He was a key player when England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
In June 2023, Moeen decided to play for the England Test team again. This happened just before the 2023 Ashes Series, after another player got injured. He fully retired from Test cricket after that Ashes series. He announced his final retirement from all international cricket in September 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Moeen Ali was born in Sparkhill, a part of Birmingham, England. His family background is both Pakistani and English. His grandfather moved to England from Mirpur, Kashmir. His grandmother, Betty Cox, was English. Moeen can understand both Urdu and Punjabi languages.
When he played for Worcestershire, fans often called him "the beard that's feared." His father worked as a taxi driver and a nurse. Moeen grew up on the same street as other cricketers, including his cousin Kabir Ali. His brothers, Kadeer and Omar, also play cricket. Moeen is a big fan of football and supports Liverpool F.C..
Cricket Journey
Starting with Warwickshire
Moeen Ali joined Warwickshire when he was only 15 years old. He scored a half-century for their Second XI team just before his 16th birthday. In 2004, he played more games at this level. He also played for the England Under-19s against Bangladesh. The next winter, he toured India with the Under-19s.
In 2005, Moeen played his first first-class game against Cambridge University. He scored 57 runs without being out. Later that summer, he played against Sri Lankan Under-19s. He scored 52 not out and 100 not out, and took seven wickets. He was chosen to captain England in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. In this tournament, he scored three half-centuries and took seven wickets.
Moeen got more chances to play for Warwickshire in 2006. He played his first List A games. He took his first first-team wicket against Derbyshire. He also took his first wickets in first-class cricket, including three Test players. In the County Championship, he scored 68 runs in his first game against Nottinghamshire. He scored the same amount against Durham.
However, Moeen's playing chances were limited. In September 2006, he decided to leave Warwickshire and join Worcestershire. He felt this move would help his career the most.
Playing for Worcestershire
Moeen made his first appearance for Worcestershire in April 2007. His highest first-class score was 250 runs, which he scored against Glamorgan. He shared a big partnership of 219 runs with Matt Pardoe in that game.
At the end of the 2010 season, Worcestershire moved up to the first division of the County Championship. Moeen then played club cricket in Bangladesh. This was suggested by Shakib Al Hasan, a famous player from Bangladesh.
2011 Season Highlights
During the 2011 season, Moeen was the acting captain for Worcestershire for three weeks. This happened when the regular captain, Daryl Mitchell, was injured. Even though he had captained England Under-19s, this was his first time leading his county team.
A Pakistan bowler, Saeed Ajmal, played for Worcestershire for a short time in 2011. He taught Moeen how to bowl the doosra, a special type of delivery. Moeen scored his first century of the season in July. He made 158 runs against Somerset. The next month, Moeen scored two centuries in the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 competition. In one match, he scored 158 runs from just 92 balls. In his first season back in the first division, Moeen scored 930 runs in the County Championship. This made him the club's second-highest run scorer.
2013 Season Success
After Vikram Solanki left the team, Moeen signed a new five-year contract. He played very well, scoring five half-centuries in a row. This led to him being called up to the England Lions team. He scored 61 runs against Australia for the Lions.
Moeen had an amazing 2013 season. He scored 1375 runs in Division 2, which was the most by any batsman in first-class cricket. He scored 4 centuries and 8 half-centuries. He also took 28 wickets. Moeen won the county cricket's MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. He was also named PCA Player of the Year. Because of his great performances, Moeen was included in the England development squad.
T20 Blast Victories
Moeen led the Worcestershire Rapids team to win the Vitality Blast in 2018. This was the first time they won the competition. They beat Lancashire Lightning in the semi-final. Then, they defeated the Sussex Sharks by 5 wickets in the final.
In 2019, Moeen was again the captain. His team almost won the T20 Blast trophy again but lost in the final to the Essex Eagles. On their way to the finals, Moeen had a great season himself. He scored 85 not out against Birmingham Bears in a group stage match. In the quarter-finals, he scored an amazing 121 not out against the Sussex Sharks. This helped Worcestershire reach Finals Day.
At Finals Day, Moeen's team made an incredible comeback against the Nottinghamshire Outlaws. They defended a score of 147 runs from a very difficult position. Nottinghamshire needed 11 runs from 12 balls, but Worcestershire took three wickets in the second-to-last over. Nottinghamshire needed 2 runs from the last ball, but they missed it. Worcestershire won by just 1 run in a very exciting semi-final. In the final, Worcestershire seemed to be winning against the Essex Eagles. However, the Eagles managed to score 12 runs off the last over to win their first T20 Blast Trophy.
International Career for England
Starting in 2014
Moeen Ali was chosen for the England team for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Before this tournament, England played against the West Indies. Moeen made his ODI debut on 28 February 2014. He scored 44 runs and took his first ODI wicket. In the third match, he scored his first half-century, making 55 runs. Overall, he scored 109 runs and took 3 wickets in that series. He also made his T20 debut in the second match of the T20 series.
Moeen was part of England's team for the 2014 World T20. He scored 49 runs in 4 matches but did not take any wickets.
Moeen was then selected for the England Test squad to play against Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut in the first match. He scored 48 runs in the first innings. In the second Test, he scored his first Test century in the second innings. England lost that match on the very last ball.
In the first Test against India, Moeen took four wickets. In the third Test, he took his first five wicket haul in Test cricket, getting 6 wickets for 67 runs. He then took 4 wickets for 39 runs in the fourth Test, helping England win the game. Moeen also played in the ODI series against India. He hit a quick 67 runs in one match. In the final match, he took 2 wickets for 34 runs, helping England win their first game of the series.
In the first ODI of the series in Sri Lanka, Moeen hit 119 runs off just 87 balls. In the third match, he scored 58 runs and took 2 wickets for 36 runs.
Busy Year in 2015
In England's first game of the 2015 World Cup against Australia, Moeen scored 10 runs and took no wickets. In the next match against Scotland, he scored a century, making 128 runs from 107 balls. He also took two wickets and was named man of the match. An injury kept Moeen out of the final game against Afghanistan.
After recovering from his injury, Moeen joined the England team for the West Indies tour. In the second Test, he took 3 wickets for 51 runs in the West Indies' second innings. England won that match easily. In the third Test, Moeen scored 58 runs in the first innings.
Moeen was chosen for the England team for the 2015 Ashes series. In the first Test, he scored 77 runs and took 5 wickets in total. This helped England win the first game. In the third Test, he scored 38 runs. In the fourth Test, England won by a large margin to win back the Ashes trophy. In the final Test, Moeen took 3 wickets and scored 30 and 35 runs. England won the series 3-2.
In the only T20 match against Australia, Moeen took 1 wicket for 3 runs and scored an unbeaten 72 runs. He was named man of the match. In the ODI series against Australia, Moeen took 3 wickets for 32 runs in one game, helping England win. He also took 2 wickets for 40 runs in another match.
In the Test series against Pakistan in 2015, Moeen struggled with his bowling in the first Test. He took 2 wickets in the second innings. In the second Test, he took 3 wickets for 108 runs. In the third Test, he took 2 wickets for 49 runs. Moeen also played in the limited overs series against Pakistan. He took one wicket in each of the first three matches. In the final game, he took 3 wickets for 53 runs, helping England win.
Success in 2016
In the Test series against South Africa, Moeen returned to batting lower down the order. He was named man of the match in the first Test. He took 4 wickets for 69 runs and 3 wickets for 47 runs, helping England win. England won the series 2-1.
In the ODI series against South Africa, Moeen took 3 wickets for 43 runs in the first game. In the T20 match, he took 2 wickets for 22 runs.
In the T20 World Cup, Moeen took 1 wicket for 38 runs in the first game. He took 2 wickets for 34 runs against South Africa. He also scored a very important unbeaten 41 runs against Afghanistan. In that match, he and David Willey set a record for the highest 8th wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history (57 runs). He took 1 wicket for 10 runs against New Zealand, helping England reach the final. However, England lost the final match.
Moeen was part of the Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka. In the second Test, he scored his second Test century, making 155 runs not out. He took one wicket in the match, and England won.
In the second Test against Pakistan, Moeen took 2 wickets for 43 runs and 3 wickets for 88 runs. England won that match. In the third match, he scored 63 runs and an unbeaten 86 runs. This helped England win a difficult game. In the final match, he scored 108 runs. In the ODI series, Moeen took 1 wicket for 30 runs in the first game. He took 2 wickets for 39 runs and scored an unbeaten 45 runs in the fourth match.
In the first Test against Bangladesh, Moeen scored 68 runs and took 3 wickets for 75 runs. In the second innings, he took two more wickets. In the second Test, Moeen took 5 wickets for 57 runs. In the English cricket team in Bangladesh in 2016–17 series, Moeen Ali had three decisions overturned by review in one innings. This was a first in cricket history.
In the first Test in the series against India, Moeen scored 117 runs. He took 2 wickets for 85 runs. In the fourth Test, he scored 50 runs. In the final Test, he made 146 runs. England lost the series 4-0. In the ODI series against India, Moeen scored 55 runs in one match. In the first T20I, he took 2 wickets for 21 runs.
Later International Career
Moeen Ali played in the first ODI against the West Indies in 2017. He scored an unbeaten 31 runs. In the second game, he took 1 wicket for 44 runs.
In the first Test against South Africa, Moeen became one of the fastest players to score 2,000 runs and take 100 wickets in Tests. He also took his first ten-wicket haul in Tests. He was the first England player since Ian Botham to score a Test half-century and take ten wickets in the same match.
In the third Test, Moeen took a hat-trick to finish the match and bowl South Africa out. This was the first hat-trick for an England spinner since 1938. It was also the first time in 115 years that a Test victory was sealed by a hat-trick. He scored 75 not out in the second innings of the 4th Test. He also took a 5-wicket haul in that game. Moeen was the only player to achieve 25 wickets and 250 runs in a 4-Test series.
Moeen had a quieter Test series against West Indies, scoring 109 runs and taking 5 wickets. In the third ODI that followed, he scored England's second fastest century, reaching 100 runs in just 53 balls. In the fourth ODI, he scored an unbeaten 48 runs off 25 balls to win the series for England.
Moeen played in all 5 Tests of the 2017-18 Ashes but had less success. He took only 5 wickets. With the bat, he scored 179 runs.
In April 2019, he was named in England's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In June 2019, Moeen played in his 100th ODI match against Sri Lanka.
In August 2019, Moeen played against Australia in the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series. After England lost, Moeen was not selected for the second Test. He then announced he would take a "short break" from cricket. In 2020, Moeen was part of the training squads for England's international games. In July 2020, he was named England's vice-captain for the ODI series against Ireland.
Leading England
On 8 September 2020, Moeen Ali captained England for the first time in a T20I match against Australia. He became the first cricketer of Asian origin to captain England in T20s. He was also the first Asian-origin cricketer to captain England in any format since Nasser Hussain in 2003.
2021 and 2022 Seasons
In January 2021, Moeen Ali tested positive for COVID-19 before England's tour of Sri Lanka, but he recovered. He won the "man of the match" award in a T20I against Pakistan for his great all-round performance. He retired from Test cricket in September 2021. In September 2021, he was also named in England's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He scored 92 runs and took 7 wickets in 6 matches. He was announced as the Vice-captain of the English T20 squad for the West Indies tour in 2022.
Moeen Ali captained England in three T20I matches in 2022 because Eoin Morgan was injured. After Morgan retired in June 2022, Moeen was made vice-captain to Jos Buttler in shorter international games.
2023 and Final Retirement
On 7 June 2023, Moeen Ali came out of Test Cricket retirement. He joined the England squad for the 2023 Ashes after Jack Leach got injured. He took his 200th Test wicket by getting Steve Smith out in the third Test. In the next match, he became only the 16th player to reach 200 wickets and also score 3000 Test runs. At the end of the final match, he announced his retirement from Tests.
In May 2024, Ali was named in England’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. On 8 September 2024, he officially announced his retirement from all international cricket.
Franchise Cricket Teams
In January 2018, Moeen Ali was chosen by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 IPL auction for a large sum of money. However, he was released by them before the 2021 Indian Premier League.
In December 2019, he was picked by Multan Sultans for the Pakistan Super League.
In February 2021, Moeen was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL auction. He was part of the CSK team that won the 2021 IPL and the 2023 IPL. This made him the first Englishman to win the IPL twice. He was kept by CSK for the 2022 IPL season. From 2021 onwards, he also captained the Birmingham Phoenix team in The Hundred competition.
Wristband Incident
During a Test match against India in 2014, Moeen Ali wore "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine" wristbands. These were related to the Gaza conflict. Cricket rules say players cannot show messages about political, religious, or racial topics. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Moeen's message was "humanitarian, not political." They believed he had not broken any rules. However, the match referee, David Boon, decided that Moeen could not wear the bands.
Charity Work
Moeen Ali is an Ambassador for StreetChance. This program offers free cricket coaching to children in areas of the UK that need it most. In January 2015, he became a Global Brand Ambassador for Orphans in Need, an international charity. He even carried the charity's logo on his bat.
Moeen said he enjoys returning to the community where he grew up playing cricket. He hopes to inspire children through his role as an ambassador. He believes it is very important that programs like StreetChance give young people the chance to play cricket and learn important life skills, no matter where they are from.
Personal Life
Moeen Ali is married to Firoza Hossain. They have a daughter and a son together.
Awards and Recognition
In January 2015, Moeen Ali was nominated for the Best at Sport award at the British Muslim Awards.
He was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 2022 for his services to cricket.
In November 2024, Moeen Ali received an Honorary Doctorate from Coventry University. This was to recognize his important contributions to English cricket during his ten-year international career.
