Worcestershire: Moeen Ali cleared to play in Glamorgan match

Moeen batted for almost six-and-a-half hours for his unbeaten 108 at Headingley

Moeen Ali has been given permission by the England and Wales Cricket Board to play in Worcestershire's Championship match against Glamorgan on Sunday.

Moeen 27, came agonisingly close to salvaging a draw for England in the second Test against Sri Lanka earlier this week, hitting an unbeaten 108.

However, Sri Lanka won the game by 100 runs to take the series 1-0.

All-rounder Moeen has been allowed to play for his county in preparation for the five-Test series against India.

"I'm delighted that the ECB understand that the best preparation for Moeen for a Test match is to play in this four-day game against Glamorgan," said Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

Sri Lanka was Moeen's first Test series for England, but it ended in defeat when James Anderson fell to the penultimate ball of the final day at Headingley.

Moeen is now on an England increment contract for 2013-14, having qualified automatically as a result of making his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord's in June, his 10th international appearance.

The Moseley-born former Warwickshire player made his first England appearance in a one-day international against the West Indies in Antigua on 28 February,

He then played two more ODIs and two Twenty20s against West Indies, plus four more Twenty20s in the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh in March before being called up for the Test team too triggered his increment contract.

After making 48 and 4 on his Test debut, as well as claiming the prize scalp of Kumar Sangakkara as his first Test victim. he took two more wickets at Headingley to precede his unbeaten century, having made just 2 in the first innings.