England v Sri Lanka: Uncapped James Vince & Jake Ball called up

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James Vince
James Vince was part of the England squad that reached the final of the World Twenty20
England v Sri Lanka, first Investec Test
Venue: Headingley Dates: 19-23 May
Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Uncapped duo James Vince and Jake Ball have been named in England's 12-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley next week.

Vince, 25, looks set to play in the game, which starts on 19 May, while Ball, also 25, will have to vie for the third seamer's role in Leeds.

Alex Hales remains as captain Alastair Cook's opening partner, while pace bowler Steven Finn is fit again.

Nick Compton has kept his spot as England's likely number three.

Lions captain Vince has five limited-overs caps and was part of the England squad that reached the final of the ICC World Twenty20 in India last month.

He comes into the team in place of the retired James Taylor.

"It's something I've been aiming for since I was a little kid really," said Hampshire captain Vince. "Definitely when I was growing up, playing for England in a Test was still the number one."

Vince gets the nod at number five ahead of the likes of Ian Bell and Gary Ballance, who were both dropped last year.

"Gary Ballance is still a fine player," said England vice-captain and Ballance's Yorkshire team-mate Joe Root. "I'm sure when he gets the opportunity to play for Yorkshire next week he'll be desperate to prove he's still a Test batsman."

Root, speaking to BBC Sport, added: "James has had a fantastic start to the season, he has been involved in the England set-up all winter and proven that he's got the right temperament and mindset to be successful on the international stage."

Ball has stated his case with 19 wickets already for Nottinghamshire this season and also spent time with the Lions in the United Arab Emirates.

The right-armer will compete with Steven Finn for a place in the final XI.

"I've never met the coach Trevor Bayliss and I don't know if he's seen me bowl in person," Ball told BBC Radio 5 live. "I'll have to try to impress him and Alastair Cook in the nets and hopefully that we lead to a spot in the team.

"I'm not putting pressure on myself. I'll just enjoy every minute of it because it's a once in a lifetime experience and keep doing what I've been doing for Notts."

There are three Tests in the series, with the second set for 27 May at Chester-le-Street and the third from 3 June at Lord's.

Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Vince.

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120 comments

  • Comment posted by U15717699, at 10:09 12 May 2016

    6. Unbelievable.

    EVERY article is questioned by somebody as not being of sufficient importance for a HYS.

    Usually it is women's cricket. Here it is about the ENGLAND MEN'S TEST SQUAD, surely an important matter, yet you still deem it not worthy of comment!

  • Comment posted by Linense, at 10:42 12 May 2016

    In Vince a Ball.

  • Comment posted by John Petrie, at 09:28 12 May 2016

    So the early season form that the selectors were looking at ultimately counted for nothing. Robson has massively outscored Compton in the same county on the same pitches and would have deserved the number 3 slot. Vince and Ball good calls but at Headingly; amazed to see no Plunkett or Rashid.

  • Comment posted by Alan, at 11:30 12 May 2016

    Not sure what Plunkett's done wrong - I reckon he's our fastest and most aggressive bowler, not sure the Sri Lankans would fancy some rib tickling on a cool May day.

  • Comment posted by twinbob2, at 14:23 12 May 2016

    @ 69 Cricket is by far the greatest game in the world. The BBC should shelve the football and spend the money saved to show Cricket, and I do not mean T20. It would definitely be worth paying the licence fee then.

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 09:57 12 May 2016

    I'm disappointed Sam Robson didn't get a call-up; he's only 26, and he's in excellent form so far. Obviously they want to continue with Hales & Compton rather than discard them after one series v South Africa, but I'm not convinced about Compton under pressure; while Hales is a white ball batsman for me, rather than Tests. He's more Finch than Warner, if you want to draw the Australia comparison.

  • Comment posted by Tanglewood, at 17:49 12 May 2016

    I'm sure that Johnners would be relishing the opportunities for commentary faux pas involving Jake Ball. On which topic, very sad to hear of the loss of Tony Cozier. Like John Arlott he had that rare ability to raise his art to that of poetry and hearing his voice during coverage of West Indies tests will be much missed.

  • Comment posted by charlieboy, at 15:57 12 May 2016

    Vince & Ball? They sound like an old music hall act. I wonder if asked 100 people in high street at random if anyone has heard of them. I haven't. Like golf, cricket stuck itself away on pay tv and is withering away due to lack of exposure and general public awareness. Fast becoming a minority interest. Yet years ago test matches were THE summer sporting spectacle which the whole nation followed.

  • Comment posted by hackerjack, at 10:21 12 May 2016

    3. Posted by ChintzyMekano
    on
    58 minutes ago
    So Headingly , Yorkshire top of table yet no Yorkshire bowler , do the England selectors just mess with Rashid for the fun of it.....
    ------------------
    Rashid was never going to play this match, they would be nuts to play two spinners in spring in England against Sri Lanka. Clling him up as 12th man would be messing him around more.

  • Comment posted by Andrew of Ware, at 10:24 12 May 2016

    Compton is, possibly, the only person I would change. He and Robson have similar, rather average, test records. Robson is in better form, however. For those calling for a Yorkshire paceman to be included at Headingly, I would ask 'who?' Willey is injured and Patterson and Brooks are both the wrong side of 30. Plunkett's eight wickets at 45 this season hardly screams for a re-call.

  • Comment posted by U16080241, at 16:43 12 May 2016

    Ball deserves a place given his early season form. On a Headingly pitch I am surprised there is no Plunkett or possibly Rashid although the former can go for a few. Perhaps Robson can consider himself unlucky.
    TMS soon to grace our airwaves again. All must be right in the world. RIP Tony Cozier. I have had immense enjoyment listening to you over the years.

  • Comment posted by Al , at 10:06 12 May 2016

    Think it is fair enough, Compton may not be in the best form but he is the incumbent batsman from a series winning team, as is Hales who hasn't had that bad a start to the season. Robson has started well this season and just needs to keep the form up and his time will come, there's also Bell-Drummond and Westley in fantastic form so back up is looking good.

  • Comment posted by Surely not, at 15:29 12 May 2016

    I'm with those that would like the BBC to have a channel solely operational for the Tests.

    Pop up shops seem to be the rage, how about a pop up channel ?

  • Comment posted by Charles G, at 11:14 12 May 2016

    There was meda talk about Ballance being selected. Glad he wasn't.......one first class ton since he was dropped last year and, having seen him in the televised game against Notts, his 'problems' haven't been rectified. Compton and Hales are fortunate but at least they're getting a run.

  • Comment posted by Sonmi_451, at 15:46 12 May 2016

    Good luck to the new guys. We have an exciting team to cheer on this summer and I can't wait for the first test.

    Still shocked by what has happened to James Taylor though.

  • Comment posted by U15771452, at 15:17 12 May 2016

    Fair enough - Vince is a fine player. Hales & Compton deserve another chance - although neither is convincing.
    I'd rather see Rashid in for Ali - he has more potential as a bowler and is handy enough with a bat - Ali's batting has been going backwards.
    Don't know much about Ball, but we should have half an eye on the 2017 ashes - Anderson will be 35 by then.

  • Comment posted by Scott, at 12:35 12 May 2016

    I think it would have been really unfair to have given Hales only one series away to one of the strongest test playing nations in the world. He deserves a a few games over the summer and then we can make a judgement.

  • Comment posted by Mr Anti-BBC-bias , at 09:26 12 May 2016

    Good! Give them experience and then watch them grow. Something the England football team needs to learn.

  • Comment posted by U13716022, at 08:35 13 May 2016

    100

    Hardly an "experimental side" when either 9 or 10 of the 11 who take the field will have played in the last test.

    And "an insult to Sri Lanka" ? What a laughable statement.

  • Comment posted by U13716022, at 23:22 12 May 2016

    Bold moves by the Selectors, but the right choices. Robson should possibly be there too, but Hales needs another series to prove whether he's capable or not.

    The one thing I'm ecstatic about is they didn't go back to the dreadful Ian Bell.

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