London: Middle-order batsman Jonny Bairstow has received his maiden call-up to the England Test squad for the series opener against the West Indies Thursday.
Bairstow, who has played in six One-day Internationals and six Twenty20s for England, is the only uncapped player in the 13-member squad for the first Test.
The 22-year-old, who made an impressive debut in a ODI against India in Cardiff last September, is expected to bat at No.6 in the absence of Ravi Bopara, who suffered a thigh injury two days ago which appears to have ruled him out of contention.
Graham Onions is one of five seamers named in squad with Steve Finn, Tim Bresnan James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
If selected Thursday, Bairstow will follow in his late father's footsteps as an England Test player. David Bairstow played four Tests for his country between 1979 and 1981.
"Jonny Bairstow has put in a number of impressive performances both for England Lions and Yorkshire and has been working hard on the England performance programme over the last couple of years. He is an exciting young player, who now has an opportunity to experience the Test environment," national selector Geoff Miller was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
"We have selected a very strong 13-man squad which allows us to consider a number of options before making a decision about Thursday's side," he said. "We have included five seam bowlers who have all demonstrated that they are capable of winning Test matches for England."
England squad:
Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Steve Finn, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.
(IANS)
