Eoin Morgan has kept his place in the England squad for the first test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday, edging out Ravi Bopara despite his back-to-back centuries in a recent game with Yorkshire.

Morgan, an exciting one-day batsman, got his first chance in the long format of the game in a two-test series against Bangladesh and if he performs well could have a role to play in the Ashes later this year.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood and paceman Stuart Broad are back after being rested for the Bangladesh test series. Batsman Ian Bell is still recovering from a broken bone in his foot.

"Ian's absence provides other batsmen with the chance to impress against a world-class Pakistan bowling attack," national selector Geoff Miller said in a media release on Sunday.

Pakistan go into the match on a high after ending a long losing run against Australia with a three-wicket victory at Headingley on Saturday to square the series 1-1.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott. (Writing by Dave Thompson; Editing by Peter Rutherford. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)