England included uncapped fast bowler Josh Tong in the squad for the Ireland Test. Cricket
Uncapped fast bowler Josh Tong has been selected in England’s 16-man squad for the one-off Test against Ireland next month, the country’s Cricket Board (ECB) said on Wednesday.
Tongue, 25, is yet to represent the national team in any format but has impressed in the County Championship Division Two this season, taking 11 wickets for Worcestershire. He also took eight wickets in the England Lions’ Test victory over Sri Lanka in February.
The lone Test will be at Lord’s from June 1 to 4 before the five-Test Ashes series against Australia begins at Edgbaston on June 16.
England had injury problems in the lead-up to the Ashes, with fast bowler Jofra Archer ruled out of the series and fellow pacemen Ollie Robinson and James Anderson returning from injury.
“It is important to have players ready to respond and with a big summer of Test cricket coming up, we will need that depth in our squad. We wish Josh and the rest of the team the best of luck for their first international match of the campaign,” said England men’s selector Luke Wright.
Cricket Ireland also confirmed a late change to their squad on Wednesday, with seamer Matthew Foster brought in in place of Conor Olfert, who failed to recover in time from a knee problem.
