England will hit Ireland and then Australia with the most attacking lineup possible after returning Jonny Bairstow to the side at the expense of Ben Foakes.
The Yorkshire star, who set the Bazball era alight last summer with a series of destructive innings, slots straight back into the side at the first opportunity after recovering from a broken leg and dislocated ankle sustained while playing golf over the winter.
The big shift though is that Bairstow, who played solely as a batter last year alongside Foakes, will now retake the wicket-keeping gloves so that England can find room for both him and his initial replacement Harry Brook who has been equally dominant with the bat during the last six months.
It means an unlucky axing for Foakes, widely regarded as the best gloveman in the game, but who is a more traditional keeper batter and has admitted he might not quite have the same top gear as the other batters in the middle, even though he averages a respectable 32 in his 20 Tests.
Managing director of England men's cricket an chief selector Rob Key said: “It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out of the squad. He has been excellent for England in the last year, but Jonny Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomised what we are about."
England have Ollie Pope as their official vice-captain after handing him more leadership responsibilities in the last year including taking charge of the side on the rare occasion when they have played warm up or practice matches. His new role comes as part of a wider 15-man squad that has been named for their Test against Ireland at Lord's on June 1 that includes 40-year-old James Anderson who is currently a doubt due to a groin strain.
And while there is plenty of excitement at Bairstow's return the squad news arrived with the desperately sad revelation that Jofra Archer's summer is already over before it began due to a stress fracture of his troublesome right elbow.
Archer had hoped to make a return to all formats for England this year after playing T20 and ODI cricket in South Africa in January, but his elbow was unable to cope with the demands of that tour and then the IPL that followed.
Further surgery in Belgium midway through the tournament failed to solve the extensive pain he was feeling, and further scans have shown a recurrence of the stress fracture and he will now work on his rehabilitation with England and Sussex medical teams.
Key added: “It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later."
Stokes' desire to his the Aussies with express pace this summer comes in the shape of Mark Wood who returns to the squad after missing out in New Zealand, while Olly Stone, who did make that tour but is now injured, is replaced in the squad by Chris Woakes who hasn't played Test cricket at home since 2020.
England squad for the LV= Test match v Ireland on June 1 at Lord's
Stokes (c), Anderson, Bairstow, Broad, Brook, Crawley, Duckett, Lawrence, Leach, Pope, Potts, Robinson, Root, Woakes, Wood
