MOEEN Ali has been included in the Worcestershire squad for the two-day friendly match with Northamptonshire at Northampton starting tomorrow.

The 27-year-old will be returning to action for the first time since suffering a side strain when bowling a month ago in England’s World Cup clash with Bangladesh in Adelaide on March 9.

Moeen was left out of England’s initial squad for the three-match Test series in the West Indies which gets under way on April 13.

But the option is there for him to join up with the squad at some point during the tour should he prove his fitness.

Moeen has played all seven Tests versus Sri Lanka (two) and India (five) since making his England debut in the longer format against the Sri Lankans at Lord’s.

He will play purely as a batsman at Northampton in the County’s final warm-up match of the season after working with the staff at New Road during the past few days.

The Worcestershire squad is: Mitchell, Fell, Moeen Ali, Kervezee, Kohler-Cadmore, Whiteley, Cox, D’Oliveira, Leach, Barnard, Russell, Andrew.