Moeen Ali is taking a break to prolong his Test career

Cricketer Moeen Ali is taking a break from Test cricket in a bid to prolong his career.

Writing in his column in The Guardian, Ali said taking some time away has always felt liberating and therefore he does not want to rush his return. He however acknowledged that he had been tempted to make an early return to the Test squad for the four-Test series that gets underway on Boxing Day.

"Representing England has always been a privilege and my decision to take a break from Test cricket at the end of the home summer was made to ensure that, hopefully, I can do it for a lot longer," Moeen wrote.

"The past few years have been so full-on and the plan behind my break from Test cricket was to freshen up, enjoy some new environments and get my game back in good order," he added. "That is something that people perhaps don't realise is hard to do when you play all three international formats and particularly so when you are an allrounder."

Since his international debut in 2014, Test cricket has reached a level where pressure and scrutiny are greatest, said Ali. “Combining it all had become a bit draining and rushing back now might have seen nothing change in this regard.

"I have put no timeframe on things. I just want to get that buzz back - a feeling of making my debut again - and ultimately become a better player for it," he said.

Reacting to Ali's decision to step away from Test cricket, former England captain Nasser Hussain said Ali cannot expect is to walk straight back into the Test team when he decides the time is right for him.

"Test cricket is bloody hard work and, if you are not certain you want to be in that environment, like Moeen, then England should not be considering selecting him," Hussain said in a column for The Daily Mail.