Thursday 12 May 2016 2:05 pm

Vince and Ball handed England chance as selectors keep faith with Hales and Compton for first Test against Sri Lanka

Sports Editor

Hampshire batsman James Vince admits he was shocked after England selectors put him in line for a first Test cap in the opening match of the home series with Sri Lanka next week.

The captain of the England Lions development team is joined in the 12-man squad by Nottinghamshire seamer and fellow Test newcomer Jake Ball, who tops the First Division wicket-taking charts this season.

Vince, 25, has already made his mark in England’s limited-overs sides, helping them to last month’s World Twenty20 final, and hit a century at Headingley – scene of the first Test – against Yorkshire last month.

“It’s something I’ve been aiming for since I was a little kid,” said Vince.

“I’ve had the experience of the T20s against Pakistan, being in the World T20 squad was a great experience as well.

"Since then I’ve turned my attention to Hampshire and trying to have a good start to the season. It’s only the last week when I started to notice stuff in the press. But to get the call, it took a while to sink in.”

Vince is expected to play a part in the first of three Tests, which starts on Thursday 19 May, following the sudden retirement of James Taylor while Ball is vying for the third seamer slot.

Opener Alex Hales and fellow batsman Nick Compton are set to keep their places in the team despite speculation they could be dropped.

“I see these guys play a lot, and I know what they’re capable of doing,” said team-mate Joe Root. “I’ve got every confidence in those guys ahead of me to go on and make big scores.”