BEFORE THE main course of the Ashes, we have the amuse-bouche that is England’s four-day Test against Ireland.
You can bet Ireland will not be viewing Wednesday as a warmup – this is only their third-ever Test match after all and their first at the home of cricket.
But for England there is an escapable feeling that this clash falls between two stools.
With the dust still not quite settled on that famous World Cup win and with the Ashes on the horizon – England could be forgiven for having their heads elsewhere.
Indeed, both Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have been given the week off while Mark Wood’s side strain rules him out.
Jofra Archer becomes possibly the first man to be rested from a Test match before he has even played one.
He was nursing a side problem at the back end of the World Cup and how much of a role he plays in the Ashes remains to be seen.
He is currently on holiday back in Barbados, but that just means that England have the chance to bring in some new faces.
The name on most people’s lips on Wednesday on the walk to the ground will undoubtedly be Jason Roy.
The Surrey star was at his belligerent best in the World Cup, averaging north of 60 at the top of the order with Jonny Bairstow and now looks set to be given his chance as a red-ball opener – alongside county teammate Rory Burns most likely.
The 28-year-old Roy has only played three first-class games since 2017 – and opened the batting in none of those.
But Ed Smith is prone to a punt when it comes to selections – see Buttler, Jos last year for proof.
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