Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell have both been named in Brian Ashton's England team to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wilkinson and Farrell will line up together at Twickenham
Fly-half Wilkinson has not played for England since the 2003 World Cup final because of injuries, and has only played 40 minutes in the last 12 weeks.
Rugby league convert Farrell is picked at centre alongside Mike Tindall.
Jason Robinson returns on the wing, while Magnus Lund, Joe Worsley and Martin Corry make up the back row.
Robinson was coaxed out of international retirement after initially stepping down after the 2005 Six Nations.
England hooker Steve Thompson has been ruled out of the whole tournament with a neck injury, while uncapped number eight Dan Ward-Smith is also facing a lengthy spell out with a knee injury.
The defending world champions have finished fourth in the last two Six Nations and are on a dismal run of eight defeats in their last nine Tests.
But Ashton's appointment as head coach has raised hopes that England can make a fresh start under new captain Phil Vickery.
Ellis fell out of favour under previous coach Andy Robinson
And Ashton has certainly rung the changes in his first selection, with 11 personnel changes from the last Test under previous coach Andy Robinson.
Leicester's Harry Ellis has received a recall at scrum-half, but there is no room for veteran back Mike Catt.
Newcastle's Mathew Tait has to settle for a place on the bench, as do prop Julian White and second row Tom Palmer.
Ashton has opted for Leicester's Louis Deacon alongside Danny Grewcock in the second row, while George Chuter gets the nod at hooker following Thompson's omission.
Lund, a specialist open-side flanker, will start at seven with Lewis Moody dropping down to the bench.
And Corry, captain during Andy Robinson's largely unsuccessful tenure, gets the chance to stake his claim as a player, partly thanks to Ward-Smith's injury.
Wilkinson's inclusion represents a major gamble, given his injury record over the last three years.
The 27-year-old, who has 52 England caps, has endured a horrendous run of luck, suffering injuries to his neck, shoulder, knee ligaments and, most recently, kidney.
He returned as a substitute for Newcastle at the weekend against Leicester, his first action since suffering a lacerated kidney in early November.
Ashton wants Farrell to reinvigorate England's backline
Wilkinson will have Saracens centre and former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell outside him at Twickenham.
Farrell missed the whole of his first season in union to injury, but has impressed at centre since switching from blind-side flanker.
"I'm delighted to announce a strong England 22 for what will be a very challenging match against Scotland on Saturday," said Ashton.
"It is well documented that I have been an admirer of Andy Farrell's career for a number of years and I'm looking forward to seeing him play rugby union for his country.
"I'm also pleased that Jason Robinson has decided to return from international retirement and that Jonny Wilkinson has returned to fitness after his recent injury."
606 DEBATE: Give your views on the England team to face Scotland
England team to face Scotland:
I Balshaw (Gloucester); J Lewsey (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), A Farrell (Saracens), J Robinson (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); P Freshwater (Perpignan), G Chuter (Leicester), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), L Deacon (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lund (Sale Sharks), M Corry (Leicester).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), P Richards (Gloucester), T Flood (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).