Uncapped Toby Roland-Jones has been named in England's Test squad to play South Africa, with Gary Ballance and Mark Wood also returning.
Middlesex seamer Roland-Jones and Ballance, who missed the winter tour to Bangladesh and India, have been included in the 12-man group for the first match at Lord's.
Roland-Jones, who made his one-day international debut in June at Lord's against Ireland, has taken 22 wickets in the County Championship during this campaign.
Durham bowler Wood also returns to the Test squad for the first time since October 2015.
Jake Ball (right knee) and Chris Woakes (side strain) were not available for selection due to injury.
Yorkshire's Joe Root, who was appointed England's Test captain in February, will lead the team out for the first time on Thursday.
"There is great excitement around the first Test of the summer and with the start of a new era under the captaincy of Joe Root this is an exciting time for English cricket," said chairman of selectors James Whitaker.
"Toby Roland-Jones is a player we have been monitoring for quite some time and deserves his chance after a strong couple of seasons with Middlesex in red ball cricket.
"He came close last year when he was named in the Test squad against Pakistan in July. Toby has been in good form this campaign and his ability to seam the ball along with the fact that he can score useful runs down the order gives us a number of options.
"Yorkshire's Gary Ballance could play his first Test since October. He has been in fantastic touch with the bat in the Championship averaging over 100. He deserves to be included and we feel that he will add maturity and experience to our middle-order.
"On behalf of the selectors, I would like to wish Joe Root, Trevor Bayliss and all the squad the very best for what will be a competitive series against South Africa."
England first Test squad to face South Africa:
Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Keaton Jennings (Durham), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham)