Moeen Ali returns as England announce 30-man training squad ahead of West Indies Tests

Ahead of the iconic Test series against West Indies, England have announced a 30-member training squad. The English players will kick off their training at the Ageas Bowl from June 23 ahead of the first Test, which is slated to start from July 8.

The series is anticipated to be one-of-a-kind as it will denote the resumption of international cricket amid the COVID-19 debacle. England are scheduled to play three Tests against the Caribbean side, with the first match at the Ageas Bowl and the remaining two at the Old Trafford in Manchester. All the matches will be played in a biosecure environment in the absence of spectators.

One prominent name in the 30-man training squad was of Moeen Ali, who has been away from donning the whites for England for almost a year now. Ali had announced a break from Test cricket after losing out on a central contract from the longest format for the 2019-20 season.

James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood return to the setup

Dan Lawrence, who played a key role in Essex’s two Championship triumphs in the last three seasons, has also been called up to the Joe Root-led side. Lawrence had also hogged the headlines by scoring two tons in the red-ball leg of England’s winter tour of Australia.

Other familiar names in the 30-man squad are James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, who are set to return to the side after being omitted from the Sri Lanka tour due to injury. After undergoing ankle surgery, England’s first-choice opener Rory Burns has also been slotted in the training squad.

Talking about the wicketkeeping lot, Jonny Bairstow has also been included in the 30-man side along with England’s first-choice keeper Jos Buttler. Bairstow’s last two Test expeditions for England were futile as he could only score 1 and 9 in one Test against South Africa. James Bracey and Ben Foakes have also been included to keep England’s wicketkeeping options wide open.

The training camp will also feature fresh faces like Jamie Overton, James Bracey, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson and Amar Virdi, who are yet to don the Test jersey. Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson and Lewis Gregory have been in Test squads previously but have not earned the cap yet.

“Everyone involved with England is delighted that cricket is returning soon and that the players are reporting for group training in preparation for the Test series against the West Indies,” said England’s national selector Ed Smith.

England’s 30-man squad: Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.