THE return of England all-rounder Moeen Ali will be like having two new players in Worcestershire’s side, insists captain Daryl Mitchell.

Moeen has been enjoying a break in Dubai after a hectic international programme with England, which saw them finish runners-up to the West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20 final.

The 28-year-old is centrally contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

He is missing Worcestershire’s opening Specsavers County Championship Division Two fixture against Kent but has been given the go-ahead to play for the County in their next three games.

“Moeen was obviously disappointed with the result in the World Twenty20 final but it was a fantastic tournament and England performed exceptionally well,” said Mitchell.

“Moeen said he was really proud to have been involved in that England team and it had been great to be part of such a fantastic World Cup, so he’s not too downbeat despite losing in the final.”

Moeen will feature for the County against Gloucestershire at Bristol from April 24, against Essex at New Road from May 1 and against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium from May 8.

Mitchell said: “Moeen is on holiday in Dubai at the moment but he’s looking forward to getting back to Worcester and hitting some red cricket balls and batting in the top six for a change, which will be nice for him when he turns out for us at Bristol.

“Moeen will add quality and experience to our top six batting line-up, as well as being the best spin bowler in the country.

“With Moeen coming back it will be like having two new players in the team, so it’s a great problem to have.

“Unfortunately, somebody who plays against Kent will have to miss out but, as a captain, it’s a good problem to have when you’ve got somebody of Moeen’s quality coming back into the team.”

Moeen made his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in June 2014.

He is expected to feature in the opening Test of the summer against Sri Lanka at Headingley on May 19.

County director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “Moeen has been on the go for two years since breaking into international cricket and he needed a breather.

“We are very pleased we will have him for three games.

“There’s no point us having a tired and jaded Moeen. We want a fresh Moeen, so the break is coming at the right time for him.”

Rhodes kept a close eye on Moeen in the World Twenty20 and felt Eoin Morgan’s tactic not to bowl the County man in the final almost paid dividends.

Needing 19 runs to win from the last over, Carlos Brathwaite hammered four successive sixes off Ben Stokes to seal a remarkable four-wicket success for the West Indies.

Rhodes said: “I actually thought it was quite a good move not to bowl Moeen because the West Indies batsman had waited to launch into him and got themselves into a bad position.

“It wasn’t a bad tactic to hold Moeen back. I felt England were going to win the competition until the West Indies blasted the second of their four sixes in the last over.”