Moeen Ali considering Test comeback for the Ashes: Reports

Ahead of their much-awaited Ashes series at home, England were dealt with a severe blow as Jack Leach was ruled out due to a lower back stress fracture. 

The left-arm spinner has been a vital cog in the Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes era, where England have managed to win 11 out of their 13 Test matches. 

According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, the England team management have approached Mooen Ali to consider coming out of retirement and plying his trade for the national side in the longest format. 

The all-rounder is a veteran of 67 Test matches, amassing 2914 runs and scalping 195 wickets with the red ball. The 35-year-old last featured for England in September 2021 against India at the Oval and has not played any first-class cricket since then. 

While there were reports about him being approached for the away series against Pakistan in December 2022, his commitments with the white-ball team and franchise cricket across the globe meant it was not successful. 

However, with an injury to England's premier spinner, Moeen will be a handy option for the team and augurs well in the new aggressive style of play adopted by the team under Stokes and McCullum. 

In a conversation with Sky Sports, Stuart Broad said, "We know Mo is a phenomenal cricketer and someone who would fit into Stokes and Baz's philosophy beautifully. I don't know if he's being considered by the selectors or if he would consider red-ball cricket again. But he's a mighty fine cricketer."

Alastair Cook, the former England captain, in his interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, felt Liam Dawson could be the ideal replacement but backed Mooen to come out of retirement and play for Stokes. 

"The like-for-like is Liam Dawson. I would probably go for Dawson for that role, but I think England will take the more aggressive. They're trying to get Moeen. 

"It's a tough one for Mo because he won't want to let Ben Stokes down. He's really close to him. But it's a big ask. When you know what Test cricket - and certainly an Ashes - can do to you mentally, you've got to really want to be out there in the battle."

"Obviously, in the last few years, he kind of felt like he'd done his time in Test cricket. It's whether a bit of time away has changed that. It's easy saying yes over a phone call, but actually, when the pressure gets on, do you really want to be there," he concluded. 

The first of the five Ashes Tests will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting June 16.