Eoin Morgan has warned that his England team must prepare to be “taken out of their comfort zone” when they open a seminal summer against Ireland.
England’s build-up has been turbulent, with Alex Hales axed from the squad after serving a drugs ban. He is not the only regular missing for the trip to Dublin and the T20 against Pakistan on Sunday. Chris Woakes and Jason Roy are not risked with injury, while Mark Wood is playing for Durham instead. As a result, Jofra Archer is set to make his debut.
Morgan said: “Ireland are a tricky team, particularly at that time of year, and it will be a difficult game.
“Games like that, you need to be turning up knowing what you’re up against and preparing well for it. It takes us out of our comfort zone.”
MCC members yesterday voted unanimously in favour of the £52million project to develop the Compton and Edrich Stands at Lord’s — and confirmed August 27 as the date when work, which will be completed for summer 2021, will commence. The ground’s capacity will increase by 2,600 as a result.
Kumar Sangakkara was also confirmed as MCC’s first non-British president. He begins his one-year term in October.
