LONDON, May 11: England recalled 39-year-old wicket-keeper Alec Stewart to their squad Saturday for the first Test against Sri Lanka as one of four experienced names to return from the wilderness.

Stewart, got his chance after first-choice Jamie Foster, 17 years his junior, broke his arm while batting in the nets last week.

Pace bowler Alex Tudor, seamer Dominic Cork and John Crawley also returned to the 13-man group as the selectors ignored the claims of younger players.

England chief of selectors David Graveney said: “Alec is a proven performer and is in good form. I’m sure he’s keen to prove he has an international future.”

Before Foster’s injury, skipper Nasser Hussain had suggested that Stewart would have to limit his ambitions to the one-day side after not receiving an England central contract.

Stewart last played in the 2001 Ashes series but was replaced after opting not to tour India at the turn of the year.

Squad: Nasser Hussain (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, John Crawley, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Dominic Cork, Ashley Giles, Andy Caddick, Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor.—Reuters