The Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth is set to make his England debut after being named in a 12-man squad for next week's first cricket Test against New Zealand at Lord's.
Adam Lyth delivers the ball for Yorkshire, 2014 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Apart from England captain Alastair Cook, Lyth was the only specialist opening batsman included in the squad.
Lyth is now set to partner his skipper at the top of the order in place of Jonathan Trott, who retired from international cricket following England's five-wicket defeat by the West Indies in the third Test in Barbados earlier this month that saw the series end all square at 1-1.
Durham paceman Mark Wood was the only other uncapped player named in the squad, the first since former captain Andrew Strauss became England's new director of cricket.
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Lyth, baring a late injury, would play at Lord's in the first of a two-match series.
Lyth told the BBC he can't wait to walk out with AC at Lord's next Thursday, it will be the proudest moment of his life.
Lyth and Wood were both in England's squad for the recent Tests in the Caribbean but did not play.
New Zealand have won four and drawn two of their six Test series since losing 2-nil in England in 2013.
England squad:
Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)