Moeen Ali has been named in England’s 16 strong squad to play two Tests against Sri Lanka next month.
The Worcestershire all-rounder has happy memories of facing Sri Lanka and will be looking to repeat some of those memorable performances.
Moeen made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in June 2014 and in the following Test at Headingley scored his maiden Test hundred.
His unbeaten 108 came so close to helping England save the game before the last man James Anderson was dismissed by the penultimate ball of the game.
Two years later Moeen scored his highest Test score when he again faced Sri Lanka – a superb 155 not out at the Emirates Riverside.
The 33-year-old will be striving to add to his 60 Test appearances to date.
Although a regular member of England’s white-ball squad, Moeen’s last Test appearance was against Australia at Birmingham in August 2019.
The touring party will also contain seven travelling reserves and will depart on January 2 to play the Tests behind closed doors at Galle International Cricket Stadium on 14-18 January and 22-26 January.
England Men’s Test Squad:
Joe Root (Yorkshire) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Reserves:
James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey).
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England Tour of Sri Lanka – January 2021
Saturday 2 January: Touring party departs from London to Hambantota
Tuesday 5-9 January: Training and preparation at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Thursday 14-18 January: 1st Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Friday 22-26 January: 2nd Test match – Sri Lanka v England, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle
Wednesday 27 January: Touring party departs Sri Lanka
