IRELAND batsman Ed Joyce is relishing the prospect of facing England at Malahide on Friday.
The 36-year-old is part of an Ireland side, confident after their impressive World Cup performance, but wary of the challenge the visitors pose despite fielding an inexperienced one-day side.
James Taylor will lead the England squad that contains five uncapped players in Dublin in his 18th one-day international.
“England’s Test side has been out in the Caribbean playing a Test series there and obviously they only get back today or tomorrow,” Joyce told RTÉ Sport.
“This game was scheduled a few years ago and obviously scheduled for this particular time.
“It looks like more of an ODI side, obviously they have a lot of guys who haven’t been captained yet by England, but are playing county cricket over there. We know them and I think they’ll be very strong. People like Alex Hales and Jason Roy and these guys.
“They are exciting England players and we know we will have our hands full. And we haven’t managed to beat an English team [in Ireland]. So until we do that I don’t think we can complain about the team that comes over.
“We’re hopeful if we get our A game on Friday we’ve got a great chance of winning.”
Ireland will be without experienced bowler Tim Murtagh for Friday’s encounter, after he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday with Middlesex.
