England dropped Andrew Strauss for their three-Test tour of Sri Lanka following the opener's poor form over the past year.

The selectors called up the uncapped Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Phil Mustard and Graeme Swann from the one-day squad and recalled Owais Shah, but opted to drop Strauss for the first time even though he is still contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board.

"Andrew Strauss needs to recover his best form," chairman of selectors David Graveney said.

"We fully anticipate that he will have a major role to play with England in the next 12 months, and he will be considered for the tour of New Zealand in the New Year."

England also opted against recalling 38-year-old batsman Mark Ramprakash, despite him averaging more than 100 for Surrey the past two seasons.

"You can't do any more than Mark Ramprakash has done," Graveney said.

"He was discussed at length but ... I've spoken to him to tell him the rationale of why we've got the seven batsmen we've got."

The series begins December 1.

England squad: Michael Vaughan (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Matthew Hoggard, Phil Mustard, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Prior, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann.

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