An imaginary horse and the man who wants to be AB Villiers

Though only 24, Vince has long-been tipped as an England batsman, with a cover drive and pull likened to Michael Vaughan. In his last two seasons he has averaged over 60 in the County Championship although he only has three List A hundreds from 80 matches. Captained England Lions in the one-day series against South Africa A, which the Lions won 3-1, and made 99 in the second match during a stand of 198 with Jason Roy. Is also Hampshire's limited-overs captain for the 2015 season and could be an outside bet for the England job before the 2019 World Cup.

Anyone who bowls passable spin has a chance of getting a look-in for England at the moment. Ansari's left-armers are better than that and he was close to earning a spot in the Test squad to tour West Indies. He has spent considerable time on ECB spin-bowling programmes in recent winters but his first-class record in 2014 was five wickets at 47.50 - and he took just five wickets in four Royal London Cup matches - although did pass 1000 first-class runs. May struggle to get a game in damp Dublin conditions, especially now Adil Rashid has been drafted into the squad.

The most exciting of the uncapped players in the squad, the Kent wicketkeeper batsman has spoken about wanting to become England's AB de Villiers. Confidence is no bad thing. He took the Royal London Cup by storm in 2014 with 458 runs at 114.50 and a strike-rate of 154.20. Those returns included a phenomenal unbeaten 135 off 58 balls against Somerset coming in at No. 7. Was promoted to England's World Cup 30 when Craig Kieswetter withdrew and made two fifties in the one-day series against South Africa A. Will compete for a space in the ODI squads as a batsman alone.

A combative allrounder who has inherited the steely, competitive genes of his father, the former England allrounder Peter Willey, David would surely have already made his international debut if it had not been for a back injury which disrupted his 2014 season. He carried Northamptonshire to the T20 title in 2013 when he struck 60 off 27 balls then followed that with 4 for 9, which included a hat-trick. With England desperate to find a left-arm seamer who can justify a place Willey has the chance to tick a major box.

Brought a new level of consistency in 2014 having been promoted to the new-ball role in the Championship, although was limited to nine matches by a hamstring injury, and also struck a maiden List A hundred with an unbeaten 105. Has made an impressive start to the 2015 season with 15 wickets in three Championship matches. Success on Taunton pitches as a seamer also gives a bowler kudos.

Has spent the last month in West Indies as part of the Test squad but could not force his way through the safety-first selection policy. Has a reputation as one of the quickest bowlers on the domestic circuit and also one of the better exponents of reverse swing - probably not a factor against Ireland if Friday's weather forecast is any guide. Has previously revealed that he has an imaginary horse he brings out when bored in the field.

Not uncapped at international level, Roy made his England debut in the T20 against India, at Edgbaston, last season but if selected against Ireland it will be his first ODI. There is a clamour for him and Alex Hales to be England's full-time opener pair, given time to build a partnership together without fear of being dropped with each failure along the way. Was England Lions' leading run-scorer in the win over South Africa A which included an innings of 141 - a List A career-best.