MO: IF I'D SAID NO TO BEN I'D HAVE REGRETTED IT FOREVER

Moeen on his magical return to Ashes action 

- DEAN WILSON

MOEEN ALI revealed his joy at playing one more Ashes series after a U-turn on his Test retirement and admitted: "I would have regretted not doing it."

The off-spinning all-rounder - an Ashes winner in 2015 thought the initial approach in a text message from Ben Stokes was a joke.

But once he realised there was an injury to Jack Leach and England needed him, there was only going to be one answer.

He then had the most upand-down series of any player, collecting an MBE, ripping his spinning finger, moving up and down the order, scoring useful runs to top 3,000 in Test cricket and taking key wickets before finishing with another injury.

But the decision was utterly vindicated with a 2-2 draw.

"Things happen for a reason, it was meant to be," said Moeen.

"Test cricket is the best cricket, I wish I could rewind time! Although my career has been a bit up and down, I wouldn't change it. I've loved it.