Moeen Ali is set to step back into the Test arena for the first time in more than five months in next week’s Specsavers encounter with Ireland at Lord’s starting on July 24.
The Worcestershire all-rounder has been named in a 13 strong squad as England return to red ball action after their ICC World Cup triumph on the same ground on Sunday.
Moeen enjoyed a successful winter of Test action which brought him 32 wickets in six matches against Sri Lanka and West Indies.
It lifted his Test wicket tally to 177 from 58 Tests in addition to 2,769 runs.
Surrey batsman Jason Roy, a mainstay of England’s white ball squad, has been called up to the Test squad for the first time.
Somerset bowling all-rounder Lewis Gregory earns his first call-up to the Test squad after impressing for Somerset and the England Lions over the past few seasons.
The 27-year-old has been in fine form this campaign taking 44 wickets at an average of 13.88. He has been captaining the England Lions against Australia XI in a tour match at Canterbury.
Warwickshire seamer Olly Stone, who made his England’s ODI debut last winter in Sri Lanka, earns his second call up to the Test squad.
Stone has fully recovered from a back injury, which has kept him out for most of this season.
Lancashire’s Jos Buttler and Durham’s Ben Stokes are rested after their exploits in England’s ICC Cricket World Cup final success.
Durham fast bowler Mark Wood (left side strain) and Sussex seamer Jofra Archer (left side strain) were not considered for selection. Wood is expected to be out of action for four to six weeks following the injury he sustained in Sunday’s World Cup final.
Archer, who has yet to make his England debut in Test cricket, will have a period of rest before being considered for selection during the Specsavers Ashes Test Series. He will have a short break in Barbados before returning to the UK later this month.
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England Test squad versus Ireland:
Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
MOEEN ALI (WORCESTERSHIRE)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
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Moeen is also included in a squad of 16 players will attend a pre-Ashes training camp this weekend at St George’s Park, the Football Association’s national football centre based at Burton-Upon-Trent.
The squad is:
MOEEN ALI (WORCESTERSHIRE)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
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England Specsavers Test Series Schedule:
Specsavers Test, England v Ireland, 24-27 July 2019, Lord’s, London
1st Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 1-5 August 2019, Edgbaston, Birmingham
2nd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 14-18 August 2019, Lord’s, London
3rd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 22-26 August 2019, Emerald Headingley, Leeds
4th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 4-8 September 2019, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 12-16 September 2019, Kia Oval, London
