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Worcester ace Moeen Ali given first Test call-up

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Worcestershire's Moeen Ali was today handed a first England Test call-up as Warwickshire's Chris Woakes was recalled for the Lord's clash with Sri Lanka.

Moeen, who played for Wolverhampton last season as an allocated county player, looks set to bat at No.6 after being named in England's 12-man squad for the first Test.

And Woakes could win his second Test cap after being preferred to Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is recovering from injury.

England's selectors have handed Yorkshire paceman Liam Plunkett a first Test call since 2007 after an impressive start to the summer. And Middlesex opener Sam Robson and Sussex seamer Chris Jordan are also in line for Test debuts after being included in the squad.

Robson has been selected on the back of an impressive winter with England Lions. The talented batsman was born in Australia but has declared his allegiance to England. Jordan staked his claim for Test recognition with impressive displays in the one-day series against Sri Lanka and he appears to be locked in a battle with Woakes and Plunkett for the pace-bowling slots alongside James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

England: AN Cook (capt), MM Ali, JM Anderson, GS Ballance, IR Bell, SCJ Broad, CJ Jordan, LE Plunkett, MJ Prior (wkt), SD Robson, JE Root, CR Woakes.