England to play a four-day Test vs Ireland before the Ashes in 2019
The Test match between England and Ireland scheduled for four days (July 24-27) at Lord's before the Ashes in 2019.
In Short
- England host Ireland in a four-day Test in July next year
- The Ashes series begins August 1 at the Edgbaston
- England are bidding to regain the urn after a 4-0 drubbing by Australia
England will host Ireland in a one-off Test at Lord's in July next year before the start of the Ashes series against Australia. Ireland had made their Test debut against Pakistan at home in May and the Test against England will be a four-day affair from July 24-27.
This will also be England's first Test of less than five days since the tour of New Zealand in 1971
Before this, South Africa and Zimbabwe played a four-day Boxing Day Test at Port Elizabeth, which South Africa won within two days by an innings and 120 runs.
The Ashes series begins August 1 at the Edgbaston.
England's bid to regain the urn will start at a venue, where they are unbeaten since 2009. Following that, the rest of the four Test matches will be played at Lord's, Headingley, Old Trafford and the Oval.
England will be desperate to make a statement after their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Aussies Down Under earlier this year and recent history seems to be in England's favour as well. The Aussies have not won an away Ashes series since Steve Waugh's side triumphed 4-1 in 2001.
The Ashes will also kick-off the inaugural World Test Championship, which will see nine top-ranked Test nations competing in a league over a two-year cycle.
"We expect next summer's inaugural Test Match at Lord's against our neighbours to be an historic celebration for all Irish cricket fans," ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said in a statement.
"It will also provide excellent Ashes preparation for England against an Irish team whose impressive performance against Pakistan earlier this year showed they can compete strongly in this form of the game."
Pakistan will be England's first opponent of the home international season next year, with their tour featuring five one-day internationals (ODI) and one Twenty20, as both countries prepare for the 50-overs World Cup starting on May 30.
England's 2019 home schedule:
May 5: Only Twenty20 vs Pakistan, Cardiff
May 8: First ODI vs Pakistan, the Oval
May 11: Second ODI vs Pakistan, Southampton
May 14: Third ODI vs Pakistan, Bristol
May 17: Fourth ODI vs Pakistan, Trent Bridge
May 19: Fifth ODI vs Pakistan, Headingley
July 24-27: Only Test vs Ireland, Lord's
August 1-5: First Test vs Australia, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test vs Australia, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test vs Australia, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test vs Australia, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test vs Australia, the Oval