England choose to bowl first against Ireland in one-off Test at Lord's
The Hindu
England is playing a one-off Test match against Ireland at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London starting June 1, 2023. Follow match updates
England chose to bowl first against Ireland in their one-off, four-day Test at Lord's on Thursday.
Cloud cover during the toss was expected to move off after lunch.
England, warming up for the Ashes, picked its team on Tuesday and will debut Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue.
Jonny Bairstow also returns as wicketkeeper for a first international since August after missing five Tests because of a broken leg.
The England players' bus was briefly delayed at their hotel by protestors against new fossil fuel production.
Ireland will debut Fionn Hand as the third seamer.
The Irish lost Tests in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in April but achieved maiden hundreds for Lorcan Tucker, Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.