England's selectors sprang something of a surprise by naming three uncapped players in their 17-man squad for the winter Ashes tour of Australia.
Ben Stokes
1991: Born June 4 in Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of Kiwi rugby league international Ged Stokes.
2009: May 15 - Makes his Durham debut in a Friends Provident Trophy game against Surrey and bowls out Mark Ramprakash with his third legitimate delivery.
December - Signs two-year contract with Durham.
2010: Makes his first-class debut in the pre-season curtain-raiser against the MCC in Abu Dhabi, making 51 in the first innings.
Finishes the season with 740 Championship runs at 46.25.
2011: April - Takes six for 68 against Hampshire before hitting 135 not out from 145 balls, including five sixes in an over.
May 22 - Hits his first one-day century, 150 not out from 113 balls against Warwickshire.
June 1 - Suffers a fractured and dislocated finger while fielding for Durham against Lancashire, keeping him out for eight weeks before a return as a specialist batsman.
August 25 - Makes his England debut in a one-day international against Ireland.
September 23 - One of three England players handed Twenty20 debuts against the West indies at the Oval, along with Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn.
2012: Makes 827 Championship runs and takes 37 wickets at 21.47.
2013: February 20 - Sent home from England Lions' tour of Australia for "unprofessional conduct", along with Kent's Matt Coles, after breaching rules on drinking.
September 19 - Part of the Durham side as they clinch the LV= County Championship title with victory over Nottinghamshire.
September 23 - Handed his first Test call-up for England as part of a 17-man squad for the winter Ashes tour of Australia.
Boyd Rankin
1984: Born July 5 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
2004: Joins Middlesex.
2006: Makes List A debut as Ireland A lose by 87 runs to Sri Lanka A.
Joins Derbyshire after two years at Middlesex without playing for first team.
2007: January 31 - Makes one-day international debut for Ireland against Bermuda, taking nought for 25 off four overs in a four-wicket win.
February - Makes first-class bow as Ireland beat UAE by an innings and 170 runs in ICC Intercontinental Cup. Rankin takes four for 56 in second innings.
March/April - Part of Ireland squad which claims upset victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh at the World Cup in the West Indies, taking 12 wickets in the tournament.
May - Makes Derbyshire county championship debut against Leicestershire.
October 15 - Signs two-year deal with Warwickshire after turning down contract with Derbyshire.
2008: August - Makes Warwickshire county championship debut against Essex after an injury-hit season.
2009: June 8 - Makes Twenty20 international debut in ICC World Twenty20 as Ireland beat Bangladesh by six wickets.
2011: March 2 - Helps Ireland claim a shock three-wicket win over England at World Cup in India.
August 15 - Called up to England Lions squad and plays in 135-run win over Sri Lanka A.
2012: August - Announces he will retire from international cricket with Ireland in a bid to play Test cricket for England.
2013: June 25 - Makes England debut in T20 defeat to New Zealand at the Oval.
September 3 - Makes England ODI debut and takes ODI-best figures of four for 46 in six-wicket win over Ireland in Dublin.
September 23 - Named in England's squad for winter Ashes Tour of Australia.
