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Moeen Ali To Receive OBE Before Ashes 2023; Here's All You Need To Know

image-livcz3zuMoeen Ali (L) and Joe Root (R) [Source - Twitter]

England's ace all-rounder Moeen Ali will be absent from England's Ashes training session on Wednesday, just one day after his return to the Test team. Instead, he will make a quick trip to Windsor Castle to receive his (Order of the British Empire) OBE.

Moeen stepped up when England needed him, answering their call for help after spinner Jack Leach sustained an injury during the victory over Ireland. Despite not having played any red-ball cricket for almost two years, Moeen will be thrown into action in the first Test against Australia on Friday.

The off-spinning all-rounder agreed to rejoin the Test squad, marking his comeback since September 2021.

Before joining the team, Moeen will head to Windsor Castle accompanied by his wife Firoza and his parents Munir and Maqsood for a postponed ceremony, potentially in the presence of King Charles. Moeen had been trying to secure a suitable date for this event for a while, and coach Brendon McCullum approved his absence from training.

Having been awarded the OBE for his contributions to cricket last year, Moeen is delighted to finally make time for the ceremony. His Test career boasts impressive statistics, including 2,914 runs and 195 wickets at the Test level. With five centuries and 14 fifties to his name, Moeen's inclusion in the squad strengthens England's batting lineup significantly.

"I've been trying to find a suitable date for a while,"  Moeen Ali revealed. "Coach Brendon McCullum gave me the green light, so I decided to go ahead with it."

Given his vast experience of 64 Test matches, Moeen is now considered a strong contender to play at his home ground in Birmingham, where the first Test is scheduled to commence on June 16. His presence would undoubtedly bolster England's chances in the highly-anticipated series against Australia.