Moeen Ali is to return to playing for Worcestershire in preparation for this summer's Ashes series – and could be available for the next three LV = County Championship matches.
The all-rounder has been left out of the 14 man England squad for the five match Royal London ODI series against New Zealand beginning on June 9 at Edgbaston and ending on June 20.
England want the 27-year-old to find some rhythm with his bowling in red ball cricket before the Ashes opener at Cardiff on July 8.
Worcestershire play Warwickshire at New Road (June 14 to 17), Middlesex at Uxbridge (June 21 to 24) and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge (June 29 to July 2) ahead of that first Test.
England coach Paul Farbrace said: "Had the Ashes series not been following on from the one-day series, Moeen would definitely have been in the one-day side.
"But it gives him four or five weeks to really work at his game, work on his bowling, bowl overs for Worcestershire and be absolutely ready for when we get to Cardiff (for the first Ashes test)."
England Test captain Alastair Cook said: "Mo has not bowled as well as last summer in that India series. He has some work to do to get that consistency back.
"What I do like is that he does spin the ball hard. If he can get control back like he had against India, we know he can be a big threat."
National Selector James Whitaker said: “We have opted to rest Moeen Ali from this series and he will play cricket for Worcestershire in preparation for the Ashes next month."
