COUNTY legend Moeen Ali is back in the frame for the England test side after his surprise recall to this week's squad.

Moeen, 34, has only played one test since 2019 but has been in star form for the Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.

His form, and England's lack of it, has seen him recalled to the squad for this Thursday's second test against India at Lord's.

The Worcestershire Rapids Vitality Blast captain is in contention to play his Test on home soil since the opening game of the 2019 Ashes Series.

The last of his 61 Test appearances was against India in February when picked up eight wickets.

Moeen has taken 189 Test wickets – including 31 in seven Tests against India in this country.

The most recent of his five Test centuries was also against India in December 2016.

Moeen has been captaining Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and last night hit a half century in victory over Welsh Fire at Edgbaston.

England were outplayed for large periods of the drawn series opener at Trent Bridge last week and believe Moeen can rebalance the side in the continued absence of fellow all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes.

England have gone into their tests so far this summer without a spinner, opting instead for an all-seam attack.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: "Worcestershire spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali has been added to the England Men’s Test squad for the LV= Insurance second Test against India at Lord’s starting on Thursday.

"Ali, 34, last played Test cricket in February in the second Test in Chennai during England’s tour of India.

"He will join the Test party later today and will train this afternoon with the England squad."

Moeen has not played a first-class game since his previous Test appearance in February, during which he took eight wickets and hit a second-innings 43 in a losing cause.

On both occasions in that match he dismissed India captain Virat Kohli, though he played no further part in the series having taken up a scheduled rest period as part of the ECB’s rotation policy.