Notts pair Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have both been included in England's 12-man squad to face Sri Lanka in the opening npower Test against Cardiff this week.

But the big surprise was the inclusion of Eoin Morgan, whose 193 against Sri Lanka for England Lions convinced the Test selectors he was the right man to face the tourists again.

Ravi Bopara was expected to be the choice to bat at number six next week but his name was absent, and Morgan's in his place, in a 12-man squad which also included Steven Finn as the back-up pace bowler.

The remainder of a largely predictable squad is inevitably dominated by the players who helped England to their historic Ashes victory last winter.

National selector Geoff Miller explained the reasoning behind Morgan's elevation ahead of Bopara.

"Ravi has been getting a lot of runs for Essex but the innings that Eoin played just gave him the nod," he said.

"That innings really just showed us what he is capable of doing. It shows his strength of character."

It appears Morgan did cause some consternation too, though, when he announced after making his hundred that he was planning to fly back to the Indian Premier League over the next few days if he was not selected by England.

Bopara fostered much goodwill when he announced he would be staying in England to play four-day cricket for Essex, in order to give himself the best preparation for a Test match summer – although it has since transpired he and his girlfriend have recently become parents, providing another obvious reason for him to stay in England.

"I've had a conversation with Ravi," he said.

"He knows where he stands and what our position is – and he's still very much part of our picture.

"He didn't get the nod this time. But he'll still keep working because we need strong back-up for an intense international programme."

On Finn's selection Miller added: "We're in a situation where we've got a lot of quality seamers.

"Steven Finn was involved in the start of the Ashes and then his place was taken by Chris Tremlett, who did really well.

"But that doesn't stop the next in line, the peripheral players, from working hard. Strength in depth is a massive part of international cricket."

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