IRE vs ENG 2025: Ireland vs England 1st T20I Match Preview

Published - 16 Sept 2025, 10:58 IST | Updated - 16 Sept 2025, 10:59 IST

Ireland lock horns with England in the first T20I in the three-match series at The Village in Dublin on Wednesday, September 17.

Ireland have not played international cricket since their white-ball series at home against the West Indies in May-June. In the three-match T20I series, the first two games were washed out. However, in the third T20 in Bready, Northern Ireland, the West Indies slammed 256/5 before restricting Paul Stirling's men to 194/7. Before this assignment, the Irish side lost a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe in Harare 0-1 in February.

Ireland will want their skipper, Stirling, to lead from the front and fire at the top of the order. Harry Tector will be another key batter for the home side. In the bowling department, Matthew Humphreys will be the one to look out for. He will look to give his team some wickets with the new ball.

England will be confident about their chances after smashing 304 runs in a T20I game recently against South Africa. The series ended 1-1 after the final T20I was washed out. The Three Lions will be led by Jacob Bethell in this series. He becomes the youngest men's captain for England, surpassing Monty Bowden's record from 1889.

The 21-year-old will bank on his destructive opening duo of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler to give them some flying starts. The bowling department also has a lot of variety. Experienced spinners Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid will combine with quicks like Luke Wood and Jamie Overton to give England a balanced attack. Sam Curran could play the all-rounder's role.

The Village in Dublin is expected to be a high-scoring venue. It hosted three ODIs in the series against the West Indies earlier this year, and the average first-innings score was around 347. The captain who wins the toss would not mind batting first and setting up a huge total.

Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Benjamin White, Graham Hume, Craig Young.

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell (C), Jordan Cox, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.