England bat first, & innings victory

Interesting, I knew Tongue was highly rated but didn't expect him to get into the test squad. Could have brought Sam Cook in but hey ho.

Quite an interesting article about Tongue:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/24/uncapped-josh-tongue-added-joins-england-squad-to-face-ireland-cricket

Yeah I heard he had shoulder problems and had considered retirement. It's great that he is back bowling and can hopefully reach the levels that many think he's capable of.

I think he is a mid 80s bowler who can potentially push high 80s if his rhythm is good and he has a good away swinger at pace. It'll likely be Broad, Potts and Woakes who play though so maybe it's just a chance to get him into the squad and take a look at him.

Cook for me feels like the Jimmy replacement though. Bowls at a similar pace and is always testing the batters with his accuracy and ability to nip it either way. Complete Essex bias there maybe but his record is incredible.

I wonder if Stokes may sit this one out too. I know there has been a lot of talk about playing the best team but I think with the Ashes a matter of weeks away rather than years away, it's okay to be planning for it.

Crawley, Duckett, Pope (c), Root, Brook, Bairstow (wk), Woakes, Broad, Potts, Leach, Tongue

I can't seriously look at someone called Tongue.
then again he we will be licking his lips at the Irish batting line up.

comment by bestoftherest2021 (U22523)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
I can't seriously look at someone called Tongue.
then again he we will be licking his lips at the Irish batting line up.
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It's not a bad idea to leave out Stokes but my guess is it won't happen. I reckon he'll want to play.

It doesn't look like the most formidable England bowling line-up but it should be enough for Ireland, with all due respect. Then we'll see which bowlers can be brought in for the Ashes.

I think the likelihood is we will go as strong as we can because that is the message that Stokes wants to send. I think Robinson will play if his ankle is okay. Given Anderson is 10-14 days recovery time, I think he'd play if it was the first Ashes test but it is sensible to leave him out. Wood might be on pat leave but I'd leave him out anyway so Broad, Potts and Robinson with Leach and a few overs of Root. Stokes to play but not bowl. Anderson has played like 4 or 5 games anyway, think Robinson and Broad have only played 3 each.

There's a 3 day warm up game for Ireland starting today against an Essex/Ireland XI. Nick Browne plus a few guys making their FV debut plus a few Ireland players seems to be the teams. I think because it's a first class game, they can't all have a bowl so they have to put a load into the Essex team I guess

Essex made 343 with Robin Das making 132. Ireland(?) are currently 18-0.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1000593

Looks like I got mixed up about which team was a mixture of players, sorry.

Ireland are presently 83-5. Hope they do better in the Test.

Ireland recovered to make 419 then took 2 wickets so well done to them.

Mark Ramprakash on Crawley and other subjects. He doesn't hold back on Zak:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/may/28/england-should-pull-plug-if-zak-crawley-falters-again-against-irish-nemesis

So Ireland won by 10 wickets. Again, well done to them. On to the more serious stuff...

Strange match really with 4 or 5 Irish lads playing for Essex. Its a shame we couldn't have just arranged a 4 day game or 2 against a counties XI or something. A bit like we did for NZ. With the blast going on, there's plenty of red ball specialists who would have been happy to play a game I'm sure.

Confirmed that Anderson and Robinson won't play in the Test against Ireland:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/cricket/england-won-t-risk-james-anderson-and-ollie-robinson-for-ireland-test-as-ashes-looms/ar-AA1bPYjR?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=093f955847a54aff88986cf85966ecbf&ei=148

as long as woakes doesnt play in the ashes ill be happy. what an average bowler he is

Away from home I agree, but in England he should probably be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Averages 35 with the bat and 22 with the ball at home.

It seems Tongue will play against Ireland and Woakes will not....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/cricket/josh-tongue-handed-shock-england-debut-as-chris-woakes-omitted-for-ireland-test/ar-AA1bTLm6?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=147cc518fcbb49a3bcb9d3c2dab14b33&ei=30

Harsh on Woakes. I know they know what he brings to the table and they want to get a look at Tongue but he is always the easiest candidate to drop because he won't make a song and dance about it and he will give his all when he plays.

Good luck to Tongue though, he was close to retiring so to now be making his debut for England is a testament to the skill he has. Hopefully he can deliver against Ireland.

The team has been confirmed. All the best in particular to debutant Josh Tongue and Jonny Bairstow who is returning after a bad injury.

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Jack Leach.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65758298

Just been listening to a podcast talking about Yorkshire's troubles being bottom of the CC division 2 and getting their first T20 blast win on Tuesday after 3 losses. With penalties post racism charges to come and potential administration looming, its easy to forget that England will have Root, Brook and Bairstow* in one of the strongest looking middle orders we will ever have had going into an Ashes series.

*if he can play anywhere close to what he managed last year.

Given they have Lyth, Masood and Malan. Their top 6 would be the best in div 1 let alone div 2.

England win the toss and bowl. No surprise especially given that its only 4 days so we will get to see Tongue in action...

Anyway, Leach will be expected to help the 3 man pace attack although who knows, maybe Stokes will surprise us with a bowl but I doubt he will bowl today as he's often saved himself for the 2nd Innings.

I don't think Stokes will bowl in this match though he seems sure he will bowl this summer. Unfortunately I won't see much of this one today.

Early breakthroughs for Broady getting Balbirnie after Moor a bit earlier. Potts was pretty unlucky in the last over and bowling well but Broady seems to enjoy being the leader of the attack when Jimmy is out.

Tector gone now, slightly sloppy dismissal but the game getting away from them at the moment. I'm sure they'd have bowled first had they won the toss probably not wanting to let England get their tails up with the ball.