DURHAM wicketkeeper Phil Mustard was yesterday named alongside county colleague Paul Collingwood in the England Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.

But Steve Harmison has been told to prove his form and fitness in two matches in South Africa next month before being added to the party.

Mustard, who celebrated his 25th birthday during the recent one-day series, is the biggest surprise among the four uncapped players in the squad.

In the absence of Andrew Flintoff there is an emphasis on all-rounders, with Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, plus Essex's Ravi Bopara, also hoping for their first taste of Test cricket.

Mustard, raised in Washington and a product of the Hylton CW club, will be vying for a place in the Test side with Matt Prior, who missed the one-day series because of injury.

Most reports suggested that Mustard looked a better keeper than the Sussex man but it was felt that with 89 runs in five innings he had not done quite enough.

Warwickshire's Tim Ambrose, who averaged 45.15 with the bat compared with Mustard's 25.96 in the county championship last season, was widely tipped to get the nod ahead of him.

But with 65 championship victims, plus eight more against Durham University, Mustard was easily the leading wicketkeeper in the country this summer.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "Having recently toured Sri Lanka with the one-day squad, Phil is familiar with the conditions and will be ideally placed to deputise for Matt Prior should the situation arise."

A delighted Mustard said: "I thought they might take only one keeper for a three-Test series, so it was great to get the call from David Graveney.

"He told me I wouldn't be going to the Hong Kong Sixes as planned because I was going back to Sri Lanka instead, so that was a real bonus.

"My keeping went really well in the one-day series. I didn't get as many runs as I would have liked but I think I showed good intent for the team in getting us some quick starts.

"I would have liked to score more championship runs last season and it's something for me to work on with the coaches. I do believe I've got it in me to bat for long periods."

Harmison is to play for Highveld Lions against Cape Cobras at Paarl on November 8-11 and against Dolphins at Potchefstroom the following week, when he will be up against Durham captain Dale Benkenstein.

Graveney added: "Stephen Harmison will join the tour party in Sri Lanka subject to him proving he has regained form and fitness following his back injury."

Should Harmison not come up to requirements, among those waiting to step up from the development squad, which is due to spend three weeks in India, is Durham's Graham Onions, although Hampshire's Chris Tremlett would probably be ahead of him.