Kent all-rounder Joe Denly has received a call up to the England Test squad for the three match series in Sri Lanka starting in November.
The England National Cricket Selectors have named the following 16-strong squad.
England Test squad
Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) wicketkeeper
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Surrey opening batsman Rory Burns, Kent batsman Joe Denly and Warwickshire seamer Olly Stone are called-up to the squad for the first time.
Burns, who has captained Surrey to the Specsavers County Championship Division One title this summer, has been the leading run scorer in the top flight this season scoring 1,319 championship runs at an average of over 69.
The 32-year-old Denly returns to the England set-up for the first time since 2010 when he earned nine ODI caps and played five IT20s. The experienced right-hand batsman is comfortable batting at the top of the order and has played a pivotal role in Kent’s successful season, which saw them secure promotion to the top-flight of the County Championship this week. He is also a useful leg-spin bowler and will give options to England’s attack in the spin friendly conditions of Sri Lanka.
Stone, who was named in England’s ODI squad for the first time earlier this week, has been in excellent form for Warwickshire at the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two. The 24-year-old pace bowler has taken 37 wickets at just 12 apiece.
Somerset left-arm spinner Jack Leach returns to the squad for the first time since he made his debut in New Zealand in March and is one of three specialist spinners named alongside Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali and Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith, said:
“Joe Denly has had an excellent season with bat and ball and has matured into one of the leading players in county cricket. He has that all-round touch of class that can help at the highest level.
“Olly Stone is an exciting talent who bowls with pace and skill. His 37 wickets in the county championship have come at an average of 12.27 and a strike rate of 22.22.
“Rory Burns, who has led Surrey to the Championship title, has been the most consistent run-scorer in county cricket in recent seasons and fully deserves his elevation to the Test squad. Rory is the leading championship run-scorer this season with 1319 at an average of 69.”
England Test tour of Sri Lanka schedule:
Two-day warm-up match, SLC Board President’s XI v England, 30-31 October 2018, NCC, Colombo
Two-day warm-up match, SLC Board President’s XI v England, 1-2 November 2018, CCC, Colombo
1st Test, Sri Lanka v England, 6-10 November 2018, Galle International Stadium, Galle
2nd Test, Sri Lanka v England, 14-18 November 2018, PKICS, Kandy
3rd Test, Sri Lanka v England, 23-27 November 2018, SSC, Colombo