Ireland All Set For Four-day Test at Lord's Against England
Credits: Getty

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is in negotiations to host Ireland in a four-day Test at iconic Lord’s, next summer prior to the Ashes series.

According to English news outlet The Telegraphthe probable dates of the game would be from July 18-21.

The match would be England’s first-ever Test against Ireland and their first four-day Test since 1971.

Meanwhile, the proposed four-day Test is viewed by England as an essential part of their preparation for the Ashes series.

The 2019 Ashes is expected to begin only 11 days after the World Cup final to be played at Lord’s.

For those England players who play in both formats, the Test with Ireland is likely to be their only first-class game in the five months prior to the traditional Ashes campaign.

Ireland All Set For Four-day Test at Lord's Against England
Credits: Getty

The scheduled dates for the 2019 Ashes is yet to be announced. However, it is highly likely that there would be a gap of less than two weeks between the World Cup final on July 14 and the opening Ashes match.

So, the four-day game against Ireland would be crucial. Subsequently, it will help Joe Root and his men to get in the groove for the Ashes.

Cricket Ireland confirmed they were hopeful for a game that would be played in 2019 against England.

“We are in discussions with a whole range of countries,” the governing body told RTÉ Sport.

 

“It’s part of the Future Tours programme, an initiative that deals with the next four-year programme for Tests and one-day games,” it added.

 

“That (schedule) will be announced in the next two weeks by the International Cricket Council. We are hoping we can play (the 11 full) members over the four-year period,” it maintained.

Ireland along with Afghanistan earned Test status last year in June.  They played their first match against Pakistan last month. However, Root’s led Three Lions lost the game by nine wickets after a valiant effort at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.

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Ireland All Set For Four-day Test at Lord's Against England
Credits: Getty

Last year, South Africa and Zimbabwe locked horns in a four-day Boxing Day Test.

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