We've got a Mr Hand and a Mr Tongue - both debutants - playing today.

It sounds like the perfect opportunity for a Body Parts Cricketers XI.

If anyone says David Willey or a certain South African wicketkeeper-batter, you're not getting in...

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Jack Leach.

Ireland: James McCollum, PJ Moor, Andy Balbirnie (capt), Harry Tector, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume.

Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie: "It is a bit overcast today, if we can get through the tricky first hour and hopefully have a good day with the bat.

"We've got experience in the bank this year and guys are more experienced now and we're only going to get better with more exposure.

"The main message has been to enjoy the occasion, it is a special place to play cricket but it is about bat v ball and try your hardest to combat what they can do."

England captain Ben Stokes at the toss: "It has been an exciting time. It starts here. I am looking forward to what the summer holds.

"We try to keep it as simple as we can and continue the mindset we have had as a team."

Ben Stokes wins his first toss of the summer.

He fancies a bowl under the clouds.

We won't have to wait long to find out.

Here's the toss...

Sir Alastair Cook
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

It's always a pleasure to be at Lord's for the first day of the summer.

The pitch looks quite green, it's cloudy overhead so it feels like a bowling day to me.

James: No finer moment than the opening bars of Soul Limbo ushering in the first TMS of the year.

Polly Starkie: There's no feeling quite like hearing the Test Match Special intro music for the first time of the summer

BBC Test Match Special

Soul Limbo is playing.

Get TMS in your ear by clicking the audio icon above.

I won't tell your boss if you don't.

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England will of course start this match as big favourites. Ireland have played six Tests and have lost all six.

But four years ago England were bowled out for 85 when these sides met at Lord's.

If it was not for a 92 from Jack Leach in the second innings Ireland may well have claimed a famous win.

Oh and don't forget Ireland beat England in the T20 World Cup just last year.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

England's match against Ireland kicks off an Ashes summer that is incredibly important for Test cricket.

The Test format is increasingly being squeezed, but another chapter in the ultimate contest is a real opportunity for everyone to be reminded exactly what it is all about. An Ashes series that is every bit as compelling and thrilling as we think it might be can breathe some life into the longest form of the game.

The collective sense of anticipation we are all feeling for the battle between England and Australia is higher than at any point since the famous series of 2005, when Michael Vaughan's side regained the urn in an epic contest.

The excitement comes from the way England have been playing over the past year under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, not only winning 10 of their past 12 Tests, but doing so in such buccaneering style.

It has brought high rewards but also comes with high risks, and this Australia team will be the best team that Stokes' England have come up against. That brings a sense of trepidation.

Read more from Aggers here

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Eeeeek. Excited? It's finally here.

The most anticipated summer of cricket in recent memory is upon us.

The Australians, and not one but two Ashes series, lie in wait.

First, though, it's Ireland at Lord's. Should be a good 'un.

Summer is here.

And what a summer it should be...

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