England v Ireland: Test match betting preview, free tips & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Cricket / Main Event, 11am Wednesday

Less than two weeks ago England took the roof off Lord's in arguably the greatest cricket match of all time. Now the Three Lions must switch focus and format as they return to the Home of Cricket for their first ever Test match against Ireland.

Many of the stars of that tournament success, such as Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, will be rested while paceman Mark Wood is not expected to return until the third Ashes Test. James Anderson will also miss the Ireland game through injury.

But with that gruelling Australian examination on the horizon, the one-off Test encounter with the Irish presents a final chance for England players to nail down spots in the Ashes team.

Joe Denly is among the individuals with a point to prove.

He missed out on a place in the World Cup squad but is in prime position to take up the number three spot, with skipper Joe Root only interested in batting at four and James Vince out of form.

Denly is averaging 56 for Kent in the County Championship this term, with a highest score of 167 not out, and looks a good bet to surpass his runs line of 34.5.

In contrast to one-day international cricket, England have concerns about their openers with Rory Burns averaging only 25 in the two Test series he has played and Jason Roy making his debut in the format.

They will be facing a bowler with plenty of Lord's experience in Tim Murtagh, who has played for Middlesex for 12 years, and backing Root to be England's top runscorer lower down the order could be the way to go.

The captain was top scorer for the Three Lions at the World Cup with 556 runs and can continue his superb summer by starring at St John's Wood.

Elsewhere, Sussex and Hampshire are both winless in the Twenty20 Blast and lock horns in Hove.

Recommendations
J Denly to score 35 or more first-innings runs
1pt 5-6 Coral
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J Root top England first-innings runscorer
1pt 3-1Betfair
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