Moeen Ali has moved a step closer to a return to Test cricket

London:Moeen Ali has moved a step closer to a return to Test cricket after being named in England’s training group for the series against West Indies.

The all-rounder, 32, took a break from the longest format after being dropped during last summer’s Ashes series.

There are eight uncapped players in a 30-strong group that will begin training in Southampton on 23 June.

They will play a three-day practice game from 1 July, after which a squad will be chosen for the first Test.

The three-match series against West Indies, which will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment, starts on 8 July at the same venue.

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England training group: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Dom Bess (Somerset), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Jamie Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Amar Virdi (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)