England vs Ireland: Jason Roy earns first Test call-up as Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler rested

Jason Roy has been rewarded for his performances in England’s victorious World Cup campaign with his first call-up to the Test side. Roy is one of three uncapped players in the England squad for next week’s one-off Test against Ireland, which also sees Somerset’s Lewis Gregory and Warwickshire’s Olly Stone included in an experimental line-up.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes have been given a rest for next Wednesday’s four-day game, while Jofra Archer – widely expected to feature in the forthcoming Ashes series at the start of August – is not yet being considered for selection as he recovers from a left side strain. Mark Wood, who has a similar injury, is the other main omission as England attempt to carry the momentum of last Sunday’s remarkable triumph over New Zealand into the red-ball game.

But it is the selection of Roy, whose 443 runs at an average of 63 were an integral plank of England’s first men’s World Cup victory, that is the strongest statement of intent. There is a certain pleasing symmetry to his inclusion, given that it was in similar circumstances four years ago – a fixture against Ireland in England’s first game after a World Cup campaign – that he was given his debut in the 50-over side.

It remains to be seen whether he will open the batting with his friend and Surrey team-mate Rory Burns; Roy has not played a first-class game in eight months, and has not opened a red-ball innings for more than six years. One option is to play him at No3, where he has most recently been batting for Surrey, with Joe Denly – retained from England’s most recent series in the West Indies – opening the innings. Equally, the selectors may feel that Roy’s talent, form and confidence and will allow him to thrive where 13 of his predecessors – count them all – have thus far failed.

Gregory, a hard-hitting seam-bowling all-rounder, has earned his place after several seasons of consistent success at Somerset and with the England Lions, who he is currently captaining against the touring Australians. He lacks express pace but swings the ball skilfully both ways, and with 44 wickets is the leading England-qualified fast bowler in Division One of this season’s County Championship.

Stone, the tall Warwickshire seamer who hits an awkward length at good pace, was first called up for last winter’s tour of Sri Lanka, where he made his ODI debut, before a back injury kept him out for most of this season. He will likely vie with Gregory for the fourth or fifth pace slot, with Sam Curran and Chris Woakes joining the returning James Anderson and Stuart Broad for a game in which seam bowling is likely to play a big part.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that with Buttler and Stokes rested, England will once again be forced to shuffle their middle order, with Jonny Bairstow set to be promoted to No5 after being demoted from No3 to No7 during the tour of the West Indies. Who follows him at No6 is anyone’s guess: Woakes, Curran or Moeen Ali appear to be the likeliest contenders. The luckless Ben Foakes can consider himself mighty unfortunate.

The key for England will be to avoid the sort of hangover that afflicted previous sides that scaled the peaks of the game. The 2005 Ashes was followed by a crushing defeat in Pakistan; the 2011 team that reached the top of the world rankings was humbled by the same opposition and quickly fell apart. Ireland need no extra motivation than the occasion of their first ever Test against England, and will quickly sniff out any scintilla of complacency. Having achieved cricketing nirvana at Lord’s on Sunday, a humiliating defeat next week on the same turf would be quite the comedown.