Three days after England won their first World Cup title at Lord’s, the ECB selectors named a 13-member squad for the one-off Test with Ireland, and expectedly rewarded Roy for their success in taking the country to ODI glory.
Uncapped Jofra Archer, who does not find his name in the squad due to a side strain, will travel to Barbados for a short break before returning ahead of the Ashes 2019, for which he remains in contention. Fast bowler Mark Wood has been sidelined for four to six weeks after picking up a side strain in Sunday’s World Cup final, ruling him out of the first Test — which begins on August 1 — but not the entire series.
England chairman of selectors Ed Smith confirmed Roy would make his debut against Ireland, telling Sky Sports: “We have total confidence he will be able to adapt to red ball cricket.”
On James Anderson’s chances of being involved against Ireland as he returns from a calf tear, Smith added: “It’s not clear. He’s making good progress and, if he’s fit to play without risk against Ireland, that’s a possibility.”
England have a solid bank of quality fast bowlers to choose from, although their resources will be stretched thin for the Ireland Test due to injury.
Few injury concerns mean another World Cup hero, Chris Woakes, may have to play at Lord’s despite a temptation to rest him for the start of the Ashes.
Two bowlers who are fit and firing are veteran Stuart Broad and left-armer Sam Curran, who picked up six wickets for the England Lions against Australia A this week.
But with just two Tests to his name, Joe Denly is far from a certain starter for the Ashes and Root – who will likely bat at No.4 at Lord’s against Ireland – may yet be again asked to move up a spot this summer.
The stylish James Vince is seemingly always in the conversation for a Test return in the top three, while former skipper Michael Vaughan’s Ashes XI in The Telegraph this week included 37-year-old Ian Bell – who hasn’t played a Test in almost four years and has missed the entire county season so far due to injury – at first drop.
The opening conundrum in Tests has been a problem for England since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, and since then the selectors have tried out 13 different opening partners for the now retired Alastair Cook, none of whom has done enough to hold down his spot.
During their previous Test series, the 1-2 loss to West Indies in January-February, England used three openers. They chose Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings opening in the first and third Tests, with the 32-year-old Denly making his debut as Burns’ opening partner in the second match. When Jennings was brought back for the St Lucia Test, Denly dropped down to No 3 from where he made 20 and 69.
Burns averages 25 after six Tests while Jennings averages 25.19 after 17 matches.
Jonny Bairstow is the sole wicketkeeper in the Test squad, which means that Ben Foakes remains on the periphery. Moeen Ali keeps his place as England’s top spinner, although his form this season has been ordinary and he was dropped during the World Cup.
This match will be Ireland’s third Test, after their debut at home versus Pakistan in 2018 and an away fixture with Afghanistan in Dehradun this year.
England Test squad:
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
Meanwhile, a squad of 16 players will attend a pre-Ashes training camp this weekend at St George’s Park, the Football Association’s national football centre in Burton. That group includes World Cup winners Roy, Root, Buttler, Stokes, Wood, Chris Woakes, Bairstow and Moeen.
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