England vs Ireland predictions: Veteran Broad can start Test summer in style

- England have won 10 of their 12 Tests under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum 
- Ireland were bowled out for 38 in second innings of their previous Lord's Test 
- Recommended bet: Stuart Broad to be player of the match 

England's four-day Test match against Ireland begins on Thursday and the hosts should be too strong for their visitors at Lord's.

England's main objective of the summer is winning the Ashes series, which gets under way at Edgbaston on June 16, but they will want to make a strong start to their home schedule against Ireland at Lord's.

When Ireland made their only previous Test visit to St John's Wood they bowled out England for 85 on the first day but were rolled over for 38 in their second innings to lose by 143 runs.

Andy Balbirnie's men have suffered defeats in all three of their 2023 Tests in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, although they posted the highest total of their brief Test history — 492 — in Galle last time out and will be keen to derail an England side who have enjoyed a brilliant first year under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Team news

Worcestershire fast bowler Josh Tongue will make his Test debut for England. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson will not be risked with the Ashes on the horizon and Mark Wood is unavailable due to the birth of his second child. 
 

Jonny Bairstow is fit again after recovering from a broken leg and has replaced Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper.

For Ireland, bowler Josh Little, who played for IPL runners-up Gujarat Titans, is unavailable and Tim Murtagh, who took 5-13 in the 2019 defeat at Lord's, has retired from international cricket.  

The stats

England have drawn only three of their last 23 Test matches.

Jonny Bairstow averaged 66.31 in Test cricket in 2022, scoring six centuries in 10 matches.

England have won 10 of their 12 Tests under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Ireland were bowled out for 38 in the second innings of their previous Test at Lord's.

Ireland scored 492 in the first innings of their last Test against Sri Lanka in April but still lost by an innings and 10 runs.

Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker has scored 289 runs in his first three Test appearances for Ireland.

Prediction

England have outclassed New Zealand, India, South Africa and Pakistan in the past year and, even without several senior fast bowlers, they should be too strong for Ireland at Lord's.

The Irish won their only warm-up game against Essex by 10 wickets but taking on England in seamer-friendly conditions is a huge step up and they are missing their most talented bowler, Josh Little, who has been rested after his IPL exertions.

While England's record Test wicket-taker James Anderson is wrapped up in cotton wool for the first Ashes Test against Australia, his fellow veteran Stuart Broad will be raring to go.

Broad took 3-60 and 4-19 against Ireland in 2019 and has a fine record at Lord's, taking 102 wickets in 26 Tests and making his highest score of 169 against Pakistan at the venue in 2010.

He should enjoy the responsibility of leading an inexperienced England bowling attack and has already had success at Lord's this summer, taking seven wickets for Nottinghamshire against Middlesex in the County Championship, so is worth a bet to be named player of the match.

Back Stuart Broad to be player of the match, available at 8/1 with LiveScore Bet.