Kent's Joe Denly has been included in England's 14-man squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia.

Denly hit 23 in the first innings of England's one-off Test series against Ireland during the week, before being cruelly run out for 10 upon his return to the crease.

With questions still looming at the top of the batting order, the 33-year-old finds himself among the contenders to open or slot in at No.3.

Denly has been in decent form for Kent in the Specsavers County Championship of late, hitting 167 during Kent's 285-run win over Nottinghamshire and 154 in the draw with Hampshire.

The Kent vice-captain made scores of six and 17 on his test debut against the West Indies earlier this year, before supplying 20 and then 69 at No.3 in the second test to lead England towards a 232-run victory.

Having missed out on his nation's final World Cup-winning squad, Denly has since set his sights on earning his place at this year's Ashes.

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Jofra Archer has meanwhile been named in the Test squad for the first team, with Jack Leach missing out despite being named man of the match for his knock of 92 as nightwatchman against Ireland.

The first Test is due to get underway from Edgbaston on August 1.

England squad for first test: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain; Moeen Ali (Worcestershire); Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire); Jofra Archer (Sussex); Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire); Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire); Rory Burns (Surrey); Jos Buttler (Lancashire); Sam Curran (Surrey); Joe Denly (Kent); Jason Roy (Surrey); Ben Stokes (Durham) vice-captain; Olly Stone (Warwickshire); Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

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