WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids have received a major boost for their Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Somerset at Taunton on Wednesday.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been made available to play in the last eight encounter by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

It will be the first appearance in the competition for the 29-year-old this summer.

Moeen has played in three Specsavers County Championship and two NatWest T20 Blast games for the county.

He has been in superb form with the bat for England, scoring two fifties and a hundred in his last four innings, and picking up some key wickets.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "I am absolutely delighted. He is desperate to play.

"I spoke to him down at the Oval before the Test match and he desperately wants to help contribute to getting us through to the next round.

"We are delighted to have him back. We hope we can make it a joyous and a happy match for him."

Seven of the 11 players who were on duty in the fourth Investec Test against Pakistan at the Kia Oval have been released to play for their counties in either the Royal London quarter finals this Wednesday and Thursday or NatWest T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston next Saturday – or both.

The only England player who will not be available to his county this week is Alastair Cook, who is to take a break at the request of the management and will not play for Essex at Warwickshire.