England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced their squad for the one-off Test match against Ireland beginning from June 1. Wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has made a comeback into the England test squad after 8 months while pacer Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler have been snubbed from the test squad.
The Test match between England and Ireland will be played from 1 to 4 June at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London.
Jofra Archer out of England Test Squad with elbow injury
Pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the Test match against Ireland due to a recurrence of a stress fracture to his right elbow, announced the England and Wales Cricket Board on May 16. The pacer is set to be out for the rest of the English summer after recent scans and will now spend time with his medical team, who will work on his injury management.
“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery,” said Rob Key, ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket in a statement.
“I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later,” Rob Key further added about Jofra Archer’s fitness.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow had met with a freak injury while playing golf last year. Bairstow is fully fit now following his broken left leg and dislocated ankle, and is back with England for the first time since August. Jonny Bairstow’s entrance into the squad has made ECB drop Ben Foakes from the team.
Chris Woakes too has returned to the Test squad for the first time since March 2022. After taking a break from the tour of New Zealand, Durham fast bowler Mark Wood is also included into the squad against Ireland. Ollie Pope has been officially confirmed as England’s vice-captain with immediate effect.
Rob Key, ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, said that they will assess James Anderson’s fitness during the Ireland game. Jos Buttler too hasn’t found a spot in the squad. After the Test against Ireland, England will host Australia for the five-match Test series beginning from 16th June.
England Test Squad vs Ireland:
Ben Stokes (C), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
