England have named their 12-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting 12 June. Opener Sam Robson, pacer Chris Jordan and all-rounder Moeen Ali have earned their maiden Test calls, while another all-rounder Ben Stokes was surprisingly left out of the squad.
Australia-born Robson was part of the Lions development squad. The 24-year-old is set to make his debut and open the innings with Alastair Cook in the first match, as Michael Carberry has failed to make the cut.
Jordan is expected to be part of the pace attack, along with James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Liam Plunkett has also been recalled into the team on the back of an impressive county season, where he has picked 24 wickets at an average of 24.83. He played his last Test against West Indies in 2007.
Chris Woakes has taken the place of Stokes, who has not been included because of a lack of bowling since his return to cricket. Stokes has bowled just 37 overs, after making a comeback from a wrist injury, in two championship matches.
Stokes was the lone bright spot in England's horrid Ashes tour, as he picked up a five-wicket haul and scored his maiden ton in Perth. The 23-year-old broke his wrist during the limited-overs tour to Windies by punching a dressing room locker.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior is back in the Test team after he proved his fitness for Sussex by keeping for 172 overs against Nottinghamshire in a county match. Prior was suffering from an Achilles problem and was also dropped from the England team during the Ashes series.
Apart from Carberry and Stokes, Boyd Rankin, Kevin Pietersen, Scott Borthwick and Jonny Bairstow have also been dropped from the team that played the last Ashes Test in Sydney against Australia.
"We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of both the county and England performance programme coaches in helping to develop the talents of Sam Robson, Liam Plunkett, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes," James Whitaker, the national selector said.
"All four have carried their exciting winter form into the domestic season to earn well deserved recognition," he added. "We believe that this group of emerging talent will be very well complimented by the established core of experienced players that have been selected."
England Squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior (wk), Sam Robson, Joe Root and Chris Woakes.
