England vs. Ireland Odds, Test Match Predictions & Betting Tips: Two tips for The Ashes warm-up

It's the start of the cricketing summer for England on Thursday when they host a one-off Test match with neighbours Ireland at Lord's.

Ben Stokes and his team will head in as strong favourites to down their rivals. However, while they will want to start their summer campaign on a winning note, it's a matter of weeks until they storm into a five-Test Ashes series with Australia, so our man Steve Chambers takes a look at Thursday's Test and picks out some of those that are set to star in the match...

England last faced Ireland in a Test match on home soil back in 2019 when it looked like the visitors could have them on the ropes as William Porterfield's men were chasing just over 180 to win, but a gloriously dominant bowling display from England in the fourth innings saw them skittle the Irish for 38 and winning the match by 143 runs. 

Unsurprisingly, England line up as heavy favourites at around 1/7 with William Hill with the opposing Irish 22/1 rags with bet365, while the unlikely draw is a 15/2 shot.

The weather looks like it shall behave over the next few days, so we should get a full match in, and while England have elected to rest James Anderson ahead of the first Ashes on Test on June 16, they still have a strong line-up.

Chris Woakes, who got six of the 10 Irish wickets in that aforementioned collapse of 38 last time out, has been looked over in favour of debutant Josh Tongue, who will line up alongside Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts in the pace line-up.

Add in a strong looking middle order of former captain Joe Root, Harry Brook, and current skipper Ben Stokes then England have all the make-up of a team that should dominate from the outset.

England vs Ireland Tips

England First Wicket Under 32 Runs

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley will open with Ollie Pope at three and that is sure to be the questionable part of England's side - as it has been for the last few years - but with a relatively mediocre Irish pace line-up set to be unleashed then it could be the confidence-booster needed ahead of facing Messrs Cummins et al in the first Ashes Test in just over two weeks.

However, while England may believe they have found the answer to the opening partnership with Duckett and Crawley averaging over 48 for the first wicket (that has only come in five Test matches), so it's certainly not a given England get off to a good start.

Since Alastair Cook's retirement there have been 12 different openers and the average first wicket runs has been 28.40, so the Evens available with bet365 for the first England wicket to go before they hit 32 runs looks a decent bet.

Brendon McCullum has given the side licence to play their shots from ball one and in Duckett they have a real flyer from the off, but with the ball sure to swing early on, should England win the toss and bat, then Crawley's frailties outside of his off stump are sure to come under scrutiny, while one shot too many could see Duckett trudge back to the sheds early on.

Joe Root Top England 1st Innings Batsman

With very limited value in the win market then you have to look elsewhere for a value player bet and it's hard to look away from Joe Root being the top England batsman at 11/4.

Batting at No.4, he will be hoping he doesn't come in early and it can be him and Harry Brook that pile on the runs, but Root has shown his class at Lord's several times and is the way to go.

Averaging over 52 at the home of English cricket, Root scored a marvellous Test-winning unbeaten 115 in the first Test last summer against New Zealand which just emphasises the fact he can hit the ground running. Sure to be key throughout the summer, Root is still the proven top-class, reliable performer with the bat and he can sparkle once again.

Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie have been stalwarts of the Ireland side for many years, but it's the former - who has played at Middlesex for many years and knows the Lord's ground out of the back of his hand - that could be the much needed shining beacon. The 7/2 to top score in Ireland 1st innings looks the solid bet in what could be a one-sided affair.