Ahead of the 2019 Ashes series, England will play an only four-day home Test match against Ireland. On Wednesday (17th July), England National Cricket Selectors have announced a strong 13-member squad for the upcoming Test match against Ireland.
England and Ireland will play a four-day Test match at Lord’s (London) from 24th July. One week later of this Test match, England and Australia will begin the 2019 Ashes journey.
Among the 13-member strong Test squad, five were in England’s 15-member squad in the recently concluded 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. These five players are Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Chris Woakes.
Moreover, four of them featured in the final of this competition, which finally resulted in England’s maiden CWC victory. Excluding Moeen Ali, all the other four players featured in that final.
England’s most run-scorer in 2019 CWC, Joe Root will continue to lead the Test side in Ireland match.
Opener Jason Roy has earned his maiden Test call-up after performing impressively during the 2019 CWC.
The 33-year-old opening batsman Joe Denly is also in the Test squad. He was in the initial CWC squad, but later, he was dropped out from the main CWC squad.
Both the senior English pacers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, are in this 13-man Test squad.
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are not in this Test squad due to their injuries. Both these bowlers, who featured in the 2019 CWC final, are facing left side strains.
England squad for the four-day home Test against Ireland: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
England also announced the 16-member squad for the pre-Ashes camp
On the other hand, the English players will also attend a pre-Ashes training camp this weekend. England National Cricket Selectors have announced a 16-member squad for this camp. In this special camp, only Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood will join along with the 13-member Test squad against Ireland.
The 2019 Ashes series between England and Australia will begin on 1st August. They will play the first Test of this five-match Test series at Edgbaston (Birmingham).
England squad for the pre-Ashes camp: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.