Ireland take on CWC champions in four-day Lord's Test
Overview
England v Ireland, only Test
Lord's, London
24-27 July
11.00am local time, 10.00am GMT
England, fresh off winning the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, are back at the venue of that triumph for their first ever Test against Ireland. World Cup hero Jason Roy has earned a call-up to the Tests, which means England could try another combination at the top. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes are among those rested, with pace-bowling all-rounder Lewis Gregory in line to make his debut.
🎥 ONE MINUTE WITH: We grab a minute with Ireland’s Head of Physiotherapy and Medical Services @glammyphysio about his role with the men’s squad and how he plans to keep the players cool during the predicted heatwave this week.#BackingGreen ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/mbL2m3s6Lv
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 21, 2019
For Joe Root's men, the match will also serve as important preparation for the Ashes against Australia.
Pace bowlers Mark Adair and Craig Young could make their Test debuts for Ireland.
Remember the last timeIreland's first ODI at Lord's in 2017 didn't go well, as the hosts completed a comprehensive 85-run win to take the series 2-0. In the teams' last ODI fixture, in Dublin in May, Ireland gave England a scare but slipped to a four-wicket loss.
What they said
Sam Curran, England all-rounder: "[The World Cup win] will provide a buzz for everyone across English cricket going into the Ashes, which is the biggest series an England player can be involved in in Tests, and this match against Ireland. Days like Sunday get everyone, whether they were involved or not, more excited and desperate to do well so I'm sure it will rub off as we head into the Test part of the summer."
Names and numbers on the back of Test shirts! 🏴🏏 pic.twitter.com/M660T2EI4Z
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 22, 2019
Gary Wilson, Ireland wicket-keeper batsman: “In my generation I don’t think any of us expected to be playing a Test match at Lord’s, so to have the opportunity is great. But we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that we have to come here and perform as well. I mean that’s what it is about, it’s not just turning up and having all the fanfare around Lord’s."
Conditions
It's expected to be hot and dry in London, with highs of 33°C. The last match at Lord's was the T20 Blast clash between Middlesex and Essex, with AB de Villiers' 88* off 43 leading Middlesex's chase of 165 with plenty to spare. This will be the first international fixture at the stadium after a memorable World Cup final.