LONDON: Australia-born Sam Robson was in line to make his England debut after the Middlesex opener was named today in the squad to play Sri Lanka in next week's first Test at his Lord's 'home' ground.
Robson was one of three uncapped players named by national selector James Whitaker in a 12-man group along with all-rounder Chris Jordan, who impressed during the recent one-day series, and Moeen Ali, who provides England with their lone spin option.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett was recalled having last played Test cricket seven years ago.
Matt Prior, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, was passed fit to keep wicket.
And that meant there was no place for Jos Buttler, who made a blistering century for England against Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international at Lord's on Saturday or Jonny Bairstow, the man who replaced Prior during England's 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.
England, with pace bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes deemed not to have had enough bowling following injury, also included Warwickshire's Chris Woakes in their squad for the first of a two-Test series.
Robson is set to open alongside England captain Alastair Cook after Michael Carberry was dropped in what was Peter Moores' first Test squad since he returned to the job of England coach.
England squad: Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Gary Balance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Matt Prior (Sussex, wkt), Sam Robson (Middlesex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).