Prior has featured behind the stumps all summer but his name was missing when the 12 players contracted to the end of the 2008 domestic season were announced.

It is the second year in succession that the England and Wales Cricket Board have not nominated a wicketkeeper for a contract.

After Geraint Jones, Chris Read and Paul Nixon were all used during the winter, Sussex star Prior took over for the West Indies series earlier this year.

He scored a century on Test debut in May but has been inconsistent since. The 25-year-old remains first choice however and is the only keeper named in the 15-man squad for the forthcoming one-day series in Sri Lanka.

He is joined in that party by Nottinghamshire spinner Graeme Swann, who returns to the international fold more than seven years after his solitary one-day international appearance against South Africa.

Swann comes in for fast bowler Chris Tremlett, who drops out after sustaining a foot injury during the recent NatWest Series with India which England won 4-3.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "The selectors were delighted with many aspects of the team's performance including Paul Collingwood's development as a captain, Ian Bell's batting, the energy shown in the field and the significant contributions made by the newer members of the squad; Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Owais Shah and Luke Wright.

"We have retained Luke Wright in the squad to tour Sri Lanka following his impressive debut last week and made one change to the original squad named for The NatWest Series against India with Graeme Swann replacing Chris Tremlett.

"The local conditions in Sri Lanka are, of course, favourable to spin bowling and Graeme's inclusion in the squad will give us the option of fielding two spinners in our starting line-up if required."