Moeen to miss Hundred & play T20 before retiring
Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali is to retire from county cricket this summer after playing for Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast.The 37-year-old's current deal at Warwickshire expires in July and although he will be available for the Blast, he hopes to do so in a player-coach capacity.He has also decided not to turn out for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred this summer.Moeen ended his international career last year after playing 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20 internationals. "This is a big decision for me and not one I've taken lightly," he said. "I still have passion for the game and I love being in a team environment. I also enjoy talking to players about cricket, the tactics, and I think that'll help me move smoothly into coaching after my playing days are over."I'll be available to play throughout the Blast group games, and would love to be involved as a player-coach."
This year's Blast begins on 29 May, with the group stage running until 18 July.Finals Day will take place at Edgbaston on 13 September and should the Bears - winners in 2014 - qualify for the knockout stages, Moeen and the club will have to decide whether he should be involved."Moeen is an icon of cricket and a local hero who has inspired children from all walks of life across our region to pick up a bat and ball," said Warwickshire chief executive Stuart Cain."So it's great that he's finishing his domestic career as a Bear and will continue to help us through 2025 as he starts his transition to life as a coach."Birmingham-born Moeen began his career with the Bears before switching to neighbours Worcestershire, who he led to the T20 Blast trophy in 2018.He returned to Edgbaston on a three-year white-ball deal in 2022 and last summer scored 205 runs - including a dazzling innings of 103 off 59 balls against Leicestershire - and took five wickets in six T20 appearances.
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