Bairstow returns to the squad following his recovery from a broken leg and will take the gloves for the match at Lord's, and he is expected to keep wicket throughout the Ashes campaign as well. It is a cruel blow for Foakes
Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket for England in Test cricket this summer, after Ben Foakes was dropped from the squad for the upcoming clash with Ireland.
Bairstow returns to the side following his recovery from a broken leg and will take the gloves for the match at Lord's, and he is expected to keep wicket throughout the Ashes campaign as well.
It is a cruel blow for Foakes, who has been an important part of England's run of success under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
The Surrey wicketkeeper - largely regarded as the best with the gloves on the domestic circuit, and among the best worldwide - has been a reliable presence behind the stumps, and contributed regularly with the bat.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes reacts to being dismissed during a Test match in New Zealand in February 2023 [Getty Images]
However, with England presented with a major middle-order headache, as a result of Harry Brook's sensational form over the winter, the selectors have been ruthless is chopping Foakes and installing Bairstow.
Director of England men's cricket 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."
As well as Bairstow, England are buoyed by the return of two other senior players: Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.
Woakes, who has not played a home Test since 2020, has been in good form for Warwickshire in the County Championship, while Wood - currently away on IPL duty with Lucknow Super Giants - is the only one of England's express pace bowlers to be fit for selection.
The Durham man sat out the trip to New Zealand in February. Olly Stone has been ruled out for at least the first three Tests of the summer with a hamstring problem, while Jofra Archer will miss the entire summer having aggravated an elbow injury.
Dan Lawrence of Essex and Matthew Potts of Durham are also selected in the 15-man squad for the Ireland fixture.
Jonny Bairstow celebrates a century against India in 2022 [Getty Images]
Stokes has barely featured for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL due to knee and toe problems but is expected to captain the side.
If he is not fit, the responsibility will fall to Ollie Pope, who has been formally made vice-captain - readying him for transition to the main gig whenever Stokes calls time.
England will hope that is not for many years yet but, given his fitness record, Pope will have to be prepared to step in at short notice throughout this gruelling Ashes summer.
The Ireland Test - a four-day affair at the home of cricket - is scheduled to begin on June 1.
The first Ashes Test at Edgbaston is set to get under way on June 16. The entire Test summer is compressed into an eight-week block.
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