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Well, how do you follow that? The Greatest Game at the Greatest Venue. The Greatest Day for English cricket in, at the very least, a generation. And if Liam Plunkett's telling comments in the aftermath are anything to go by, the Greatest Comedown imaginable for a band of England cricketers who, last Sunday afternoon, reached the highest high of them all - an unforgettable World Cup triumph at Lord's.

Well, in keeping with the sport's ever-grinding treadmill, the only fit and proper follow-up is to march onwards, ever onwards, to a very different slice of cricketing history. Three strips north of the patch of grass laid out for that epic encounter with New Zealand, England and Ireland will do battle for the very first time in Test history, in a contest that offers a very abrupt change of pace from everything that we've so far witnessed this summer.

First things first, let's pay tribute to the visitors, for - with respect to their first overseas Test against Afghanistan in Dehradun in March - this is unquestionably the biggest occasion for Irish cricket since their inaugural Test against Pakistan last May. And in so many ways it is bigger still than that emotional home unveiling in Malahide.

Just try to imagine the huge pride that Ireland's players will feel as they walk through the Long Room for that very first time tomorrow, to compete in a Test match at Lord's, no less. There is no more fitting ceremony to mark the completion of their journey from Associate obscurity to Full Member acceptance, and coming so soon after a World Cup from which they were forced to look on enviously from the sidelines (and watch a former team-mate raise the trophy on England's behalf), the occasion is sure to be all the sweeter.

But let's be frank, the timing is not exactly ideal. In fact, it utterly sucks. Schedules are no-one's friend, and the ECB are entitled to say, if not now, then when could they possibly have issued that maiden invitation? But there are only two contests on English cricket's minds this summer - the World Cup that has already been, and the Ashes that are looming large in barely a week's time. Everything that occurs in the next four days (and that in itself is a telling detail) will be viewed through a light blue filter, a green-and-gold filter, or both.

Of course, that in itself will throw up some intriguing subplots. England have confirmed two debutants in their ranks for Wednesday morning - the familiar face of Jason Roy at the top of the order, and the lesser-exposed Olly Stone in the pace attack - and while both men will be justifiably proud when they receive their maiden caps before the toss, they will also know that this is just the pre-amble, an audition for a far more prestigious role in August and September.

And Roy aside, what of the other World Cup survivors - the captain Joe Root, the keeper Jonny Bairstow, and the seamer Chris Woakes, whose chronic knee problems have been managed so efficiently that he is now back to being a front-line Test option after not featuring in the side for almost a year? How do they manage the emotions of returning to the scene of that triumph? Should they hold anything in reserve, pacing themselves for stiffer tests to come, or should they throw themselves wholeheartedly into the fray, and honour the occasion as an equal, even when pragmatism says that it is not?

Of course they'll give it their all. Root is the Test captain, and rightly proud of the honour; Bairstow doesn't get out of bed with anything less than 100 percent commitment. Woakes was a centurion in his last Test at Lord's and has missed enough matches in his six-year career to know never to take anything for granted. But it doesn't make it right to expect them to be able to dredge up another performance so soon after playing their hearts out on the biggest stage of all. As shown in the new film, The Edge, which charts the rise and fall of England's 2009-14 team, the dangers of burn-out are all too real and all too easily ignored.

But, the show must and will go on, and it's fair to say that Ireland won't care too greatly if their opponents' minds are caught in no-man's land. Even eight years on, there are enough survivors in Ireland's ranks from that mighty victory in the 2011 World Cup to know how sweet it can be to fell a giant when they are least expecting it. They've spent enough of their careers punching upwards to give it one last heave for glory.

That said, there is a certain poignancy about Ireland's international fortunes at present. They are not so much a team in transition as a team basking in the last sunbeams of a golden generation. Kevin O'Brien, Tim Murtagh and Boyd Rankin are closer to their 40th birthdays than their 30th; Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien have already retired since that inaugural Test. Will Porterfield has been captain for a remarkable 11 years and counting.

That said, England are missing a raft of key performers - not least the ever-green James Anderson - and if their new-look top-order suffers a familiar wobble on another grass-tinged deck, the circumstances are ripe for an almighty World Cup comedown. But for that to happen, Ireland may require a new generation of heroes to make their presence known. That faithful old guard can't be expected to do the job every time.

Form guide

England WLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Ireland LL---

In the spotlight

Jason Roy is the anointed one. The manner in which he tore into Australia's bowlers in that crushing World Cup semi-final was all the evidence required. Like David Warner before him, he is all set to complete the transition from white-ball to red-ball opening, and given the purity of the technique that lurks behind his extraordinary power, he is surely as well placed to make a success of the promotion as any player who has gone before him. That said, he didn't have much fun against the swinging ball in the World Cup final (though he was hardly alone in that). If he can get set, however…

If Ireland are to compete on an equal footing, then local know-how is sure to be a factor. Enter Tim Murtagh, 38 next week and still making the ball talk on the Lord's slope for Middlesex week in, week out. He's picked up 291 wickets at 23.98 in his Lord's career to date, including two of his four ten-wicket hauls. The degree to which he can set the agenda could define his team's prospects.

Team news

Despite some optimistic noises about James Anderson's calf injury, England's senior seamer was never going to be risked with the Ashes just around the corner. Which means that Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes are the likely new-ball pairing, with the young gun Olly Stone lurking at first change to unleash his 90mph offerings, in only his third first-class outing since suffering a stress fracture of the back. Lewis Gregory will have to wait his turn after England opted for a twin-spin attack, with Jack Leach's left-armers set to partner Moeen Ali, who will form part of a familiarly interchangeable raft of allrounders in the middle order, albeit with Jonny Bairstow pushed up to 5. Roy and Rory Burns will form an all-Surrey opening partnership.

England 1 Jason Roy, 2 Rory Burns, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jack Leach, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Olly Stone

There's the realistic prospect of as many as three Test debutants in Ireland's ranks, with the young allrounder Mark Adair and the more seasoned seamer Craig Young in the frame, alongside the spinner Simi Singh, who could yet feature if Ireland ape England's strategy and opt for two slow bowlers. Will Porterfield was giving little away on the eve of the game, saying only that all 14 squad members were fit, although it emerged later on Tuesday that James McCollum had suffered a back spasm.

Ireland (possible): 1 Will Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Andy Balbirnie, 4 James McCollum, 5 Kevin O'Brien, 6 Gary Wilson (wk), 7 Mark Adair, 8 Andy McBrine, 9 Craig Young / Simi Singh, 10 Boyd Rankin, 11 Tim Murtagh

Pitch and conditions

Another lush green offering has been served up at Lord's, which may give Root a restless night given how strokeless he was rendered on a similar deck in the World Cup final - that one was two-paced and sticky, and favoured the slower seamers. The weather is set fair for at least the first three days, with a threat of rain at this stage for Saturday.

Stats that matter

• This will be the first home England Test match since the 2005 Ashes - 89 Tests ago - in which Alastair Cook has not featured, and the first since August 2006 in which he has not opened the batting.

• This will also be the first Test match to feature numbers on the back of England's shirts - the captain, Joe Root, will be wearing 66.

• Joe Denly will be making his first appearance in a home Test match, almost a decade after he made his ODI debut in Stormont against an Ireland that still features three of the same names.

Quotes

"It's right up there - if not the pinnacle for everything that's been achieved for the last while for Irish cricket. We have got quite a few World Cups under our belt, little things like that. They have been pretty big occasions, but getting to Test cricket and then having the opportunity to play here at the home of cricket is a pretty special thing."
Will Porterfield on a special occasion for Irish cricket

"They are a side that have always performed well, probably over-performed at times, I hope that doesn't sound that I am underestimating them or not giving them a fair shout - they have upset sides like England in previous World Cups and they ran us close in the one-day format at the start of the year … it is great for the game that sides like Ireland are getting a chance in this format and I think they have earned the right to get this fixture. "
England captain Joe Root on Ireland's Test arrival

Marcus Trescothick is set to join the England coaching team for the first two Tests of the Ashes series.

Trescothick, the former England opening batsman, has recently announced his decision to retire as a player at the end of this season and is currently struggling to break into the Somerset side. He will spend the training days ahead of the Edgbaston and Lord's Tests with the England squad at both training sessions and at the team hotel.

Jonathan Trott has fulfilled a similar role with England ahead of the Test against Ireland.

The appointment does not necessarily suggest that Trescothick - or Trott - is about to be appointed as the England team's batting coach. The ECB have yet to identify a successor to Mark Ramprakash, who left his role a couple of months ago, but are using the likes of Trott and Trescothick to help ease the burden on Graham Thorpe - the ECB's lead batting coach - on training days where coaches are expected to provide throw-downs for several hours at a time.

Thorpe is currently suffering from a sore shoulder and missed England training on Tuesday due to illness.

As a vastly experienced and successful player - the 2005 Ashes series was among his 76 Tests - Trescothick has the respect of all current players and understands the demands, both emotionally and technically, of playing at international level.

He will be on hand both in training sessions and at the team hotel, to support players as required. And, aged 43, the sessions may also help him to decide if he wants to pursue a career in coaching.

William Porterfield has said that playing Test cricket at Lord's will be "right up there, if not the pinnacle", of Ireland's journey to the top table of international cricket.

While Ireland have faced England at Lord's in a one-off ODI in 2017, their captain said on the eve of their third Test appearance that the opportunity to walk through the Long Room and down the famous steps from the Lord's pavilion on Wednesday morning would be a "pretty special moment".

"We have got quite a few World Cups under our belt, little things like that," Porterfield said. "They have been pretty big occasions, but getting to Test cricket and then having the opportunity to play here at the home of cricket is a pretty special thing.

"We had a taste of it a couple of years ago with the one-dayer here, coming down through the Long Room and everything else and the things you see that other sides get to do in terms of Test cricket, so I'm sure that's a bit of a taster of what it's going to be like come tomorrow morning when we walk down through - should that be the first two lads out there or walking down as an eleven."

This match will be the second men's Test to be contested over four days following the ICC's approval of a trial of the format in October 2017. South Africa's victory over Zimbabwe at Port Elizabeth in 2017 is the only match since to be played under such conditions since the 1970s. Porterfield played down suggestions that the shortened match would diminish the occasion in any way.

"If you look across world cricket now, a lot of focus, a lot of crowds and everything else - probably barring England, Australia and India to a fair extent where you get crowds when those three play against each other, it's a good initiative.

"You're probably missing out on less than two sessions throughout the five days. You are still making up time with 98 overs. I think that the pace at which some Test matches are played at these days anyway, it might be a good thing for the game as well."

Porterfield declared that all 14 members of his squad were in contention for a place in the starting eleven on Wednesday, although a subsequent back spasm for James McCollum may have changed that prognosis slightly. Either way, four of the squad - Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Lorcan Tucker and Craig Young - yet to make their Test debuts. While Porterfield admitted there would be some nerves for the possible debutants, he said it was perfectly fine for there to be so.

"They are young kids. They might not have played in front of 25,000 before or whatever it is. You take in different factors of the game of cricket. Once they get out there and get over the first five or ten minutes, they will get into the contest of bat and ball, but they could be lying if they don't acknowledge there will be a few nerves knocking around."

England will be making a quick transition between the white-ball and red-ball formats, ramping up towards the Ashes after a long World Cup campaign, but Ireland themselves haven't had much time in whites this summer. The visitors have contested limited overs series against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and West Indies on the international stage, while on the domestic scene their first-class competition, the Inter-Provincial Trophy, consists of only six matches a season, a number that Porterfield is keen to see increased.

"There's a lot of county cricket, four-day, first-class experience within the side. We've got a lot to draw on. In an ideal scenario, we'd be at the stage back home where we've got 10 or 12 first-class games throughout the summer as well as various other fixtures. We've got to beef up our domestic programme, especially having missed out on county cricket, both white-ball and red-ball."

ALSO READ: From World Cup magic to four-day Tests

Two names in the Ireland squad who do have experience at the home of cricket are Paul Stirling and Tim Murtagh, who have plied their trade on the county scene for Middlesex.

"Having both of those lads who have played a lot of cricket is good for the lads just to go and have a chat to and sit down and talk about it if there's anything they feel they want to focus on with regards the ground, the slope or anything really."

Porterfield himself has a history with the venue, having been part of the MCC Young Cricketers in his formative years between 2003 and 2006, and he reflected on his time as part of the programme, admitting he'd never have thought he would be back here playing Test cricket.

"To be honest, probably not," said Porterfield. "There are quite a few lads on the actual staff who were groundsmen at the time. It's been slightly different catching up with everyone and being the other side of it. It's still pretty special. We used to have to dish out the programmes in the boxes and stuff every morning, so little bits and pieces that you have to do. It's going to be slightly different being on this side of the fence."

It has been a fine week for Irish sport, with Shane Lowry claiming his first major golf title this past weekend at Royal Portrush. While Ireland come into this Test as clear underdogs, their captain insists they're in it to win it.

"It's Test match cricket for a reason - it's tough. But it's eleven guys against eleven guys, it's bat against ball. You take names, reputation, everything out of it. You've just got to take each delivery as it comes, no matter which way it goes."

Would it be the greatest moment in Irish sport if they were to come out victorious?

"I wouldn't say that if we win this Test match it would be the greatest thing that's ever been achieved in Irish sport. But as far as cricket goes, it will be."

The ECB have extended their All Stars kids cricket programme to accommodate for the enthusiasm generated by England's successful World Cup campaign.

The scheme, aimed to provided children aged between 5 and 8 with their first organised experience of the sport, usually ends as the school holidays begin. But the ECB, eager to capitalise on renewed interest in the sport, have arranged for a further 10,000 All Stars places to be available around the country.

This year, 66,000 children attended All Stars sessions; up from 59,000 last year. The aim is that, when each eight-week course ends, the clubs which ran the courses will offer the children involved further playing opportunities in the summer holidays. The ECB have also rolled out an extension of the scheme which caters for 8 to 12-year-olds utilising smaller pitch lengths and smaller team sizes.

The ECB are also aiming to launch a school's strategy later this year the broad aim of which will be to double the participation numbers of children playing cricket in primary schools.

"It's crucial that we use the platform created by the World Cup to introduce more young people to the sport and hopefully spark a lifelong passion for the game," An ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. "All Stars Cricket has been very successful in that over the last three years and hopefully the 'Have a Go' sessions will get an additional 10,000 kids down to their local club. We now need to make our game as accessible as possible which is why a major part of our strategic plan is to double participation in primary schools by 2024."

Cricket World Cup organisers claim the tournament is the third "most-watched global sporting event" - in terms of broadcast figures - after the football World Cup and the Olympics, with more than four million ticket applications made and 888,000 tickets sold. 100,000 of those were under 16. Around 43 percent of ticket buyers described themselves as England supporters, while 32 percent said they supported India, 10 percent Pakistan and six percent Bangladesh. Around 80 percent of ticket buyers lived in the UK.

For details of which clubs are offering the sessions and when visit: allstarscricket.co.uk

The Washington Redskins cut veteran linebacker Mason Foster Tuesday, one day before players are scheduled to report for training camp, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The move saves Washington $4 million against the salary cap. Foster, who led the team in tackles last season, had been on the bubble throughout the offseason. The Redskins debated cutting him before free agency, but wanted to keep him around as insurance in case they needed a veteran starter. After Reuben Foster tore his ACL during spring workouts, they signed Jon Bostic and liked what they saw from him.

The news of Mason Foster's release was first reported by Erin Hawksworth.

The Redskins also have Shaun Dion Hamilton, who can play both inside linebacker spots, and drafted Cole Holcomb in the fifth round. Mason Foster was viewed as a two-down linebacker who struggled in coverage. He said in the spring he had lost at least 15 pounds, trying to gain quickness.

Also, the Redskins could use the cap savings to possibly re-do tackle Trent Williams' contract. After releasing Foster, they'll have approximately $12 million cap space. Williams will likely miss the start of training camp as he remains upset over some of his medical care. It's uncertain if a new deal would appease him, however. He has two years remaining on his current contract.

The Redskins also want to extend guard Brandon Scherff, who is entering the final year of his contract. The sides started talking in January.

Foster started all 16 games for Washington last season, leading the team in tackles with 131. He started 38 games overall in his four seasons with the Redskins. He spent the first four years of his career as a starting linebacker with Tampa Bay. The Redskins picked him up after Chicago cut him in the summer of 2015.

Maxim Dadashev has died from injuries suffered during Friday's fight, according to trainer Buddy McGirt and Donatas Janusevicius, Dadashev's strength and conditioning coach.

Dadashev, 28, had been in UM Prince George's Hospital Center since the 11th-round loss to Subriel Matias. He underwent a two-hour surgery to relieve a subdural hematoma, or bleeding of the brain, and had been in a medically induced coma.

Early Saturday morning, neurosurgeon Mary IH Cobb told Dadashev's manager, Egis Klimas, and Janusevicius that the boxer had suffered a brain bleed on his right side, that his head was shaved and his scalp opened up, and that he was showing signs of severe brain damage. He had been given medication to decrease swelling.

Dadashev, from St. Petersburg, Russia, was 13-1 as a professional boxer.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan have become the latest players to withdraw from playing for Team USA at this summer's World Cup in China, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

They are the seventh and eighth players to pull out ahead of training camp, which starts Aug. 5 in Las Vegas. The national team is still waiting on answers from other players on the roster including Kevin Love.

The Athletic was first to report Lillard's and DeRozan's withdrawals Tuesday.

The large amount of withdrawals is not unusual for World Cup years. In 2010, Team USA had 12 new players off the 2008 Olympic team. At the last World Cup, in 2014, it was 11 new faces off the 2012 Olympic team.

Several players are lined up to take the departures place including Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

Promotion: Harrow runner Gill Bland shares her thoughts and experiences of the 2019 OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO

Taking place at the beginning of spring, for many runners the OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO offers the ideal warm-up for events including the Virgin Money London Marathon.

That was the case earlier this year for Gill Bland who was among the British runners to take to the flat and fast streets of the Cypriot city to test her training after having a baby.

She ran an impressive time of 2:58:58 to finish fourth in the Limassol Marathon women’s race, before clocking 2:57:14 in the UK capital.

Here she shares her Limassol experience.

“As a keen marathoner who had a couple of years off hard training to get pregnant, I was keen to find the right race to test where I was at one year after having my boy. It was important that the event I chose should tick all the boxes whilst ideally being the right amount of time before the London Marathon to race it properly but also act as a tune-up.

“The Limassol Marathon looked like it had everything I was looking for – flat, wide and smooth roads, enough competition to make me want to try hard and yet chilled out enough to make it low stress, plus it had the added benefits of sunshine, seaside and great food for afterwards. It certainly delivered.

“On an increasingly warm Sunday in March I set off with the Mediterranean at my side before looping in-land and then doubling back into the city. As with all marathons there were some no-man’s-land sections but the organisers went to the trouble of shipping drumming groups out to some of the more remote spots.

“I liked the fact that this route was easily split into quarters in my mind and no point was ever very far from the finish. A wide-ranging field with both international standard athletes and community groups meant that there were people to chase as well as great company along the way.

“The second half of the race headed out along the coast where I was lucky enough to run alongside a local champion and her coach, benefitting from their support before returning to the start point in the city for a triumphant home straight and a very happy fourth place and sub-three finish just next to the Marina – the perfect spot to dip those post-run toes in the sea.

“Yes Limassol, you certainly gave me everything I hoped for. I’ll be back with my eyes on that podium next year!”

Key details

What: the OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO offers a full marathon as well as a half-marathon, 10km, 5km, corporate race and children’s races.

When: the 2020 race weekend takes place from March 21-22.

Race package: the #RunLimassolPlus race weekend package has always been extremely popular with overseas athletes wanting to visit Cyprus for this superb weekend celebration of running. Offering a range of accommodation options, discounted race entry and useful added extras, the package offers a great value and hassle-free way to enjoy a long weekend away.

More info: visit limassolmarathon.com or like the Facebook page and follow @RunLimassol #RunLimassol on Twitter and limassolmarathon on Instagram to keep up-to-date with all the latest news about OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO.