Matt Prior will make his Test debut against West Indies on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman is included in the first squad named by new coach Peter Moores today.
Prior got the nod over a host of other candidates and chairman of selectors David Graveney admitted choosing the wicketkeeper was their most difficult selection decision.
Prior has already played 12 one-day internationals but a year ago he was not even in a 30-man squad chosen for last summer's international cricket.
But he has a better batting average than all of his rivals and his wicketkeeping has improved after he worked with Moores at the England Academy during the winter.
Prior said: "I knew I was really close and when I got the call from David Graveney on Saturday night - it was the best feeling in the world."
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