England v Sri Lanka: Uncapped James Vince & Jake Ball called up
Last updated on .From the section Cricket

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.
Comments
Join the conversation
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!
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.
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.
Pop up shops seem to be the rage, how about a pop up channel ?
Still shocked by what has happened to James Taylor though.
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.
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.
The one thing I'm ecstatic about is they didn't go back to the dreadful Ian Bell.