England all-rounder Moeen Ali on Monday announced he was retiring from Test cricket to focus on his white-ball career, saying the format's “intensity can be too much sometimes”.
The 34-year-old scored five centuries and took 195 wickets in cricket's longest format, including a top score of 155 not out and five five-wicket hauls.
He said, “I want to play for as long as I can and I just want to enjoy my cricket.”
Moeen Ali said, “Test cricket is amazing. When you're having a good day it's better than any other format by far. It's more rewarding and you feel like you've really earned it.”
He added: “I've enjoyed Test cricket but that intensity can be too much sometimes. I feel like I've done enough of it and I'm happy with how I've done.”
Ali made his England debut in 2014, scoring a maiden Test century against Sri Lanka at Headingley that year.
He made 35 runs and claimed two wickets in his final Test against India at the Oval earlier this month.