England have named a 16-player squad for the first two Tests of the eagerly-anticipated Ashes series against Australia.
Ben Stokes’ side will look to win back the Ashes in a five-match series that starts on June 16 at Edgbaston.
Australia, who won the last contest 4-0, are bidding to defend the Ashes and win their first Test series in England since 2001.
England are on course to beat Ireland inside three days of their only warm-up game ahead of the Ashes.
The same squad that was picked for the one-off Ireland Test has been chosen for the start of the Ashes, meaning debutant Josh Tongue keeps his place.
England record wicket-taker James Anderson and Ollie Robinson sat out against Ireland but are expected to be fit for the Ashes opener.
Australia are currently preparing for the Ashes and next week’s World Test Championship final against India at a training base in Beckenham.
England squad for first two Ashes Tests
Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)
Ashes schedule
- 16 June: First Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 11:00
- 28 June: Second Test, Lord’s, London, 11:00
- 6 July: Third Test, Clean Slate Headingley, Leeds, 11:00
- 19 July: Fourth Test, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, 11:00
- 27 July: Fifth Test, The Kia Oval, London, 11:00
More to follow…
MORE : Nasser Hussain makes Ashes prediction as England batter Ireland at Lord’s
MORE : Allan Border claims Australia are taking ‘dangerous’ risk ahead of Ashes
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