Moeen Ali has been included in the Worcestershire squad for the two-day friendly match with Northamptonshire at Northampton starting tomorrow (Tuesday).
The 27-year-old will be returning to action for the first time since suffering a side strain when bowling a month ago today 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 underway 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 breakthrough in the longer format of the game against the Sri Lankans at Lord's.
He had also appeared in 19 successive ODIs before the injury setback – two at home to India, seven in Sri Lanka, five in the Tri-Series involving Australia and India Down Under and five during the World Cup.
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.
Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has made five changes from the side which overcame Oxford MCCU by an innings and 120 runs.
In addition to Moeen, Ross Whiteley, Joe Leach, Ed Barnard and Chris Russell have been included.
Worcestershire (squad): Mitchell, Fell, Moeen Ali, Kervezee, Kohler-Cadmore, Whiteley, Cox, D'Oliveira, Leach, Barnard, Russell, Andrew.
*Worcestershire Seconds will take on Worcestershire Academy in a two-day friendly at Kidderminster starting tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Seconds have drawn their first two matches away to Loughborough MCCU (two days) and against Somerset at New Road (two days).
