CURTIS CAMPHER will move up the batting order against England at Headingley tomorrow and is set for an extended run at No 3 as Ireland start to put the building blocks in place for the next World Cup in 2027.

What looked a mouthwatering three match one-day international series early in the year is now something of sideshow after Ireland failed to qualify for the latest version of the 50-overs World Cup that starts next month in India.

But Ireland coach Heinrich Malan won’t miss the opportunity to try new options and combinations in Leeds, with former skipper Andy Balbirnie asked to open with his successor Paul Stirling, and Campher completing the top three.

“Curtis has rescued us a fair few times when we’ve lost early wickets and shown that he has got real quality against the new ball and hard pace, particularly short balls,” Malan said.

“This is the next step in the progression of his career. A lot of young batters start in the middle order and move up, and Curtis knows that he’s got our backing in that position not just for these three games but moving forward.”

If the experiment proves a success, and all-rounder Campher is also able to deliver his full quota of 10 overs, it will give Ireland the flexibility to include another specialist batter in their line-up.

“If you look where world cricket is going, there is a trend towards having five frontline bowlers, and if Curtis can be one of those and also bat in the top six that in a real bonus,” Malan said.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that taking wickets between overs 11 and 40 is something all sides struggle with in ODIs, and we’ll be looking to try a few things in that area and think outside the box a little bit.”

If Ireland do include an extra specialist batter - at the expense of either Gareth Delany or Andy McBrine, the two spinners - the spot may go to Neil Rock, the Rush skipper, who impressed in the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Scotland.

While the Ireland squad contains 10 of the players who beat England the last time the sides met in an ODI, at Southampton in 2020, the home side will choose from a second string squad captained by Zak Crawley.

Young batting sensation Harry Brook has withdrawn from the series after his call up for the World Cup while former England captain Joe Root will play tomorrow but is unlikely to feature at Trent Bridge on Saturday or Bristol on Tuesday.

IRELAND SQUAD: Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.