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05-Jun-2014 11:04:00 GMT
Sri Lanka in England 2014

England Name Uncapped Trio For Test

London: England have named uncapped trio Chris Jordan, Sam Robson and Moeen Ali in the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's on 12 June.

Sussex fast bowler Jordan, 25, took 12 wickets in the one-day series with Sri Lanka, while Ali, 26, played in three ODIs in the West Indies last winter.

Opening batsman Robson, 24, averages 51 for Middlesex this season

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior is included, while bowler Liam Plunkett returns after a seven-year Test absence.

Plunkett, 29, has enjoyed a resurgence at Yorkshire, where he is bowling with real pace, often touching 90mph. He has taken 24 wickets this season at an average of 24, while he has a highest score of 86 with the bat.

There is no place for Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was one of the few positives to emerge from England's disastrous Ashes whitewash over the winter.

The 23-year-old has only just returned to action after breaking a hand when he punched a locker after being dismissed in a one-day international against West Indies in March.

Opening batsman Michael Carberry, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, leg-spinner Scott Borthwick and pace bowler Boyd Rankin miss out after playing in England's final Test of the 5-0 defeat by Australia.

Kevin Pietersen was not available for selection after being told he is no longer part of the national team's plans, while Jonathan Trott is recovering from a stress-related condition.

Lancashire wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who struck the fastest ODI century by an England batsman during the Sri Lanka series, also misses the cut.

Jordan has impressed with bat and ball in one-day internationals since making his debut in the home series against Australia last year.

He hit 38 from 13 balls and took 3-25 in the first match against Sri Lanka at The Oval, and returned the best figures by an England bowler at Old Trafford with 5-29 in match three.

Worcestershire's Ali, meanwhile, was named Player of the Year by the Professional Cricketers' Association last season after scoring more than 2,000 runs in all forms of the game and taking 55 wickets with his off-spin bowling.

He has recently been working with his county's overseas player, Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal, to improve his bowling.

The second match in the two-Test series against the Sri Lankans begins at Headingley on Friday, 20 June.

England Test squad:

  • Alastair Cook (Capt., Essex)
  • Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
  • James Anderson (Lancashire)
  • Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
  • Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
  • Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
  • Chris Jordan (Sussex)
  • Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
  • Matt Prior (WK, Sussex)
  • Sam Robson (Middlesex)
  • Joe Root (Yorkshire)
  • Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

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