England have today announced their thirteen man squad ahead of their first ever Test match against Ireland.
The final eleven is guaranteed to include at least one Test Match debutant after uncapped trio Jason Roy, Lewis Gregory and Olly Stone were included in the squad.
Joe Root will once again captain the England Test side while senior players Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali are included.
In good news for England fans Jimmy Anderson, who had to leave the field for Lancashire following injury just two weeks ago, is in the squad suggesting he is likely to be fit ahead of the first Ashes test.
Meanwhile, fellow seamers Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad are included. With some suggestions that England’s seam attack will only have space for one of Woakes and Broad the match could become a virtual bowl-off between the two.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both miss out on the Ireland Test squad with side strains.
Whilst Wood is expected to be out for four to six weeks, Archer is set for a period of rest in Barbados before returning towards the end of July.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who both played vital roles in England’s narrow World Cup triumph, are also rested.
On the batting front Rory Burns and Joe Denly both remain in the England squad following poor returns against the West Indies earlier in the year.
However, the big winner appears to be Jason Roy who has been given a chance to further his case in opening during the Ashes. Significantly, fellow opener Dominic Sibley is a notable absence despite currently topping the run-scoring charts in Division One this season.
England’s full Test squad to face Ireland:
Joe Root (Yorkshire) – captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
JOEL KIFFIN / Getty Images
