England selector James Whitaker has insisted that all-rounder Ben Stokes is part of the side's future, despite getting left out of the Test squad to face Sri Lanka.
The 23-year-old was omitted from the 12-man squad for the first Test on June 12 following his stint on the sidelines with a wrist injury.
Stokes required surgery after he punched a locker following one of his dismissals during England's tour of the West Indies in February.
The ECB's official Twitter page quotes Whitaker as saying: "[Stokes] had a serious injury. He's part of our England future. We want him to bowl a few more overs and get some more rhythm."
Three uncapped players have been included in the squad, while Liam Plunkett has been named in the Test side for the first time in seven years.
