A huge Ashes summer awaits England and they begin their campaign with a Test match against Ireland at Lord’s on Thursday (11:00).
Ireland are yet to win any of their six Tests in their burgeoning existence in the format and they lost by 143 runs in the team’s only meeting at Lord’s in 2019.
- Harry Brook to be Man of the Match
- Matthew Potts over 4.5 wickets
- Joe Root to hit a six
Brook To Continue Hot Start
Harry Brook has made a red-hot start to his England Test career and could even make history in this matchup.
A score of 191 in his first innings would make Brook the first player ever to make 1,000 Test runs from just 11 innings.
The 24-year-old has an average of 80.9 from his first ten knocks with four centuries in that time.
With a blockbuster series against Australia on the horizon, Brook will want to cement his place as England’s bright new hope by having an impressive Test against an Irish bowling attack that is missing paceman Josh Little, who featured in the Indian Premier League for runners-up Gujarat Titans.
Ireland allowed totals of 591 and 704 in their last Test against Sri Lanka and while conditions at Lord’s will be very different to that clash, England’s batsmen could still rack up similar totals.
Brook looks a prime candidate to do so and as a result looks a tempting price to be man of the Match in this game.
HARRY BROOK TO BE MAN OF THE MATCH
Potts To Star In Anderson Absence
James Anderson is nearing the end of his England career and this looks certain to be the stalwart’s last Ashes series, so it is understandable that the 39-year-old has been rested for this clash with Ireland while he deals with a groin injury.
England and their selectors must plan for the future and as a result have opted for a youthful pair to join Stuart Broad as pacers for this Test. Jack Leach will handle spin duties.
Josh Tongue will make his England debut, The Worcestershire quick has taken 162 first- class wickets at an average of 26.04, but he may be overshadowed by his slightly more experienced teammate Matthew Potts.
The Durham seamer has 20 wickets in just five Tests so far at an average of 28 and has been in fine form in the early part of the County Championship season.
Potts has managed at least six wickets in his last four first-class matches, with a total of 28 across that run of games. He is fancied for at least five wickets in this Test.
MATTHEW POTTS OVER 4.5 WICKETS
Matthew Potts Replaces Anderson
Root To Embrace Attacking Style
Joe Root gave up the captaincy to allow Ben Stokes his opportunity and the former skipper looks to be enjoying life under the new regime.
The Yorkshireman has embraced Stokes’s new attacking style, hitting seven sixes in his last four Test innings.
England have spoken of bringing in the boundaries this summer to encourage attacking hitting and Root looks likely to smash another maximum in this clash.
