The English test summer has arrived and what a thrilling one we have in prospect, with the Ashes mere weeks away. First up is a one-off test against neighbours Ireland. We've previewed the match and given you our best bets.
England vs Ireland Tips
- Ireland - Highest opening partnership (1st Inns) - 9/5
- Lorcan Tucker - Top Ire batter (1st Inns) - 5/1
Thursday 1st June, 2023
11:00
Lord's Stadium, London
Bazball is back! After one of the most enthralling 12 months of test cricket ever seen in this country and around the world, England's (1/11) Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum return to see if they can do it in the biggest of series.
The Ashes first test is being held on the 16th June at Edgbaston and for a gentle warm up, we have a rare one off test against the Irish (18/1).
The boys in green come into this one off the back of a solitary warm up match against Essex, which couldn't have gone any better for Andy Balbirnie & Co.
A comprehensive 10 wicket win at Chelmsford will see the minnows in high spirits and confident they can give the English a real competitive game here.
Team news:
England are without the likes of James Anderson (groin) and Ollie Robinson (ankle), which has provided an opportunity on debut for Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue.
The 25-year-old has been preferred to the proven option of Chris Woakes, so it will be intriguing to see how he fares here.
Tonge has 160+ wickets, at an average of 26 ish in the County Championship and has impressed enough for the England Lions and then in training with the big boys, to be entrusted with a start.
Elsewhere, Stokes and McCullum have decided to keep faith with Zak Crawley and entrust Jonny Bairstow with the gloves down at no.7.
That sees the more talented gloveman, Ben Foakes, harshly dropped after an impressive year or so for club and country.
England:
Ireland:
From: Andrew Balbirnie (Capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
Latest England vs Ireland Betfred Odds
Ireland - Highest opening partnership (1st Inns) - 9/5
The odds on Ireland to top score with the openers in the 1st innings looks on the large side.
Obviously, we know about the trials and tribulations at the top of the order since Alastair Cook's retirement, with the likes of Haseeb Hameed, Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Alex Lees and Crawley all trying and failing to nail down a place.
England are keen to get Crawley firing for the Ashes and he has just over 400 runs at an average of 36, including a best of 170.
Ben Duckett has a similar number of runs at a better average and a high of 177, so the England openers appear in good form.
However, so are the Irish, with PJ Moor and James McCollum knocking off 232 without loss against Essex.
Given the shaky nature of England's openers, along with the weakened bowling attack for the hosts and I'm willing to take a punt on the Irish.
Lorcan Tucker - Top Ire batter (1st Inns) - 5/1
One man who looked in good nick up at Chelmsford, was Irish keeper Lorcan Tucker.
He fell just short of a century in the first innings, reach 97 off 102 balls.
The 26-year-old is Ireland's leading run scorer in test matches and scored a superb century against Bangladesh earlier this year.
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