England's Moeen ready to return to Tests
Moeen Ali says he's ready to go back to Test action for England after a self-imposed exile from the red-ball game despite having been made to feel just like "a scapegoat" in the past.
All-rounder Moeen missed the Test matches during England's winter tours of New Zealand and South Africa after going for a spell from the longest format of the overall game.
The 32-year-old, who continued to play limited overs matches for England, has been reflecting on his absence through the coronavirus lockdown and suggested he'd be willing to return to Tests if selected when cricket eventually resumes.
"I think I'd probably be ready (to play Test cricket) now, in all honesty. Clearly I would need to be playing well and win an area back on merit," Moeen told the Guardian.
"But in conditions of being available - and obviously I'm speaking hypothetically - if there is a Test match tomorrow and I acquired the decision, I'd say 'yes'.
"We are all missing cricket now and coronavirus makes you realise everything you love. It might take out the complete summer and that might be a huge thing."
Moeen was dropped following the first Test against Australia this past year and admitted to feeling such as a scapegoat.
He has played 60 Tests for England, scoring five centuries and taking 181 wickets.
"When you find yourself surrounded by a few negative comments, somehow it's whatever you can focus on. You need to be mentally more powerful and filter more of it out," Moeen said.
"It's almost been a case of forgiving whoever has ever said anything I didn't like and today looking to start out afresh when we get back playing.
"I might have felt a scapegoat at times during the past but I'm over it now. It is time to move on."
