England have announced a 30-man training squad as they sharpen up preparations ahead of the much-anticipated Test series against the West Indies next month.

In one notable inclusion all-rounder Moeen Ali returns to the frame, following his omission from the England team since the first Ashes Test match against Australia at Edgbaston last year.

Poor form with both bat and ball also had Ali missing out on selection for the English tours that followed to New Zealand and South Africa, while he wasn’t part of the group that travelled to Sri Lanka either in March.

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Meanwhile, the squad also features eight uncapped players in the red-ball format with James Bracey, Lewis Gregory, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson and Amar Virdi all hoping to make the final 20-man squad, which will be confirmed ahead of the first Test on 8 July.

Opening batsman Rory Burns is also back in the mix after suffering a freak injury during a warm-up session ahead of the second Test between England and South Africa in Cape Town at the start of the year.

In a statement, national selector Ed Smith signalled the ECB’s delight to return to action again in what promises to be an interesting battle with Jason Holder’s men.

‘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,’ he said.

England 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.