Ireland out to break their Test duck against England at the home of ...

There's no doubt England are red hot favourites for the Test match starting at Lord's in London today.

Bookmakers have them at 1/10 so don't waste your time. But there's a glimmer of optimism and undeniable talent about this Ireland side that will someday soon shock one of the world powers, although few see it happening this week.

More than 25,000 tickets have been sold for day one, with hopes that the good weather will bring the attendance close to the 31,000 capacity.

Ireland's Captain Andrew Balbirnie plays a shot during the ICC mens Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match between West Indies and Ireland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on October 21, 2022. Pic: DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images

England are the world's number one side, coming into the game with nine wins in their last ten Tests.

Ireland have played six, lost six since playing the longest format for the first time five years ago.

England's dominance has come from a complete reinvention of how they play the game, adopting the ultra-aggressive approach of twenty20 with a fearless attitude hardened by the coach's decision to back his players come what may.

Ireland’s Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher celebrate winning against The Netherlands. 2021 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 18/10/2021. Pic: INPHO/Pankaj Nangia

That coach, New Zealander Brendon 'Baz' McCullum has lent his name to the style, labelled 'Bazball' by a journalist, a phrase the head coach hates.

The best example of the high-tempo, fast scoring bazbatting came in November in Pakistan.

A full day of 90 overs was reduced by an hour due to bad light, leaving just 75 overs. In that time England scored a record 506-4, the first time 500 had been passed in a day, at a rate of 6.75 runs per over.

Had they batted the full time there's little doubt they would have passed 600 too. Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook all scored centuries at better than a run a ball.

24 July 2019; Ireland players celebrate after Joe Root of England is given out after a DRS review during day one of the Specsavers Test Match between Ireland and England at Lords Cricket Ground in London, England. Pic: Matt Impey/Sportsfile

England's newest star Harry Brook scored 153, 87, 9, 108, and 111 in that series. There is a chance the 24-year-old could become the fastest ever to reach 1,000 runs, needing to score 191 in the first innings to break the record of 12 innings set by fellow Yorkshireman Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indian Everton Weekes.

Happily for Ireland, Ben Stokes' side are not as well stocked with bowling resources. James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson are out with injury, Mark

Wood is doubtful, while Stokes' dodgy knee is likely to keep him from turning his arm over.

Like the Welsh whistling down a coal mine to call up their next out-half, England have whistled out to the shires to call up right arm seamer Josh Tongue.

The 25-year-old has impressed this season and getting to dismiss Australian Steve Smith in a county game has won him a call-up.

'He's obviously a bit of a rough diamond,' McCullum said. 'We think he's got something really exciting. Whether he plays in this Test or throughout the summer I'm not sure, but he is another one who looks like he has an immense amount of talent.'

Ireland aren't wanting for talent either, with a nice crop of youngsters emerging since the last visit to Lord's. Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker made a thrilling century on his Test debut in Bangladesh, while his fellow middle-order batsman Harry Tector has three fifties in three tests, both youngsters averaging in the high forties.

They, and pace bowler Josh Little, come from the generation untainted by county cricket.

Since Ed Joyce paved the way, two dozen Irish youngsters tried their hand in the English system, with Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling and others making a career of it.

Elevation to Test status came with a price: hitherto seen as 'local', Irish players were now labelled 'overseas' and forced to compete with Aussies and South Africans for the limited county slots.

Only Paul Stirling has had more than a handful of games since.

Left at home with poor facilities and limited competition, Tucker, Little and Tector have had to learn their trade on the job, Tucker admitted. 'It was hard to step up from club and interpro, the gulf was huge,' he says.

'Guys who go through the county system adapt quicker. It took a lot longer for me, Harry and Josh to get to the level of international cricket. My first 30, 40 games I didn't know what I was doing. That was our school - I failed a lot, struggled for long periods, it was tough.'

Little is missing this week after a spat with Cricket Ireland over his playing in the Indian Premier League. The left-arm quickie looks set to sit out all future Tests in favour of maximising his performance in T20 and ODIs, and the franchise leagues around the world.

Ireland's bowling cupboard is thin, with Barry McCarthy and Conor Olphert injured, David Delany exiled in Australia, and Craig Young struggling to be fit. Mark Adair will lead the attack, with back-up seam from Graham Hume and Curtis Campher. If Young fails a fitness test there could be a debut for Fionn Hand or Tom Mayes.

Assistant coach Gary Wilson refused to be daunted.

'There's always a chance,' he said. 'England are obviously a very good side but we both have bats, we both have balls, it's a game of cricket.

'I'll be saying to the players to go out there and focus on trying to get a result that will put us up in lights and I think they've got a good chance.

'There's no doubt we have to play our best cricket and England have to be slightly off, but we're here to compete and to try to win.'

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (SA), Paul Wilson (Aus) TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SL) Match referee: Richie Richardson (WI) The pitch: Lord's looked green yesterday and should give the seamers plenty of assistance.

The weather: The sun should shine on St John's Wood for all four days.. TV: LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event from 10am (play starts 11am).

By Ger Siggins