Cricket News: Irishman Ed Joyce has been selected in a strong England A squad to play a four-day match against the touring Sri Lankans at Worcester next week.

Joyce, who had a reasonably successful tour of the West Indies with England A during the off-season, will see this as a high-profile opportunity to stake his claim for full senior England honours.

Sri Lanka will play three Tests and five ODIs in England by the start of July and then they will be replaced by Pakistan who will play a further four Tests and five ODIs. England will also play a full ODI against Ireland on July 13th in Belfast, the first time such a fixture has been organised.

"This is the first opportunity an England A side has had to take on a touring side in this country," said England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney. "It allows players who are currently on the fringe of the international arena to press for places in our Test and one-day sides."

The side will be captained by Kent skipper Robert Key and includes six players - Alex Loudon, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Ali Cook, Chris Tremlett and Owais Shah - who were selected for England's winter tours.

Tremlett had to withdraw from those tours due to a knee injury but he showed he was back to full fitness on Sunday, taking a full part for his county Hampshire in their eight-wicket win over Ireland in the C&G Trophy match at Castle Avenue.

Having played 50 times for Ireland, Joyce (27) has now qualified to play for England after fulfilling a four-year residency period there. The left-handed middle-order batsman has established himself as a senior player for Middlesex and if he puts in another good domestic season for his county and England A, he could find himself in Australia competing for the Ashes next winter.

ENGLAND A: Robert Key (capt), Alastair Cook, Owais Shah, Ed Joyce, Ravi Bopara, Alex Loudon, Rikki Clarke, Chris Read, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Sajid Mahmood.