Ireland v England: Rain washes out one-day international

England's one-day international against Ireland was abandoned after rain allowed only 18 overs to be played. Ireland had limped to 56-4 when the players were forced off at 12:05 BST, and the match was called off at 15:10. Mark Wood and David Willey, two of five debutants for England, both took their first ODI wickets in James Taylor's first game as captain. Paul Stirling, William Porterfield, Niall O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie all failed. Ed Joyce was 23 not out.

This was England's first one-day match since a dismal World Cup campaign that saw them lose four of six matches and fail to reach the knockout stages.. Taylor had said it represented a fresh start, with the side including none of the players involved in the three-Test series against West Indies, which ended 1-1. Surrey pair Zafar Ansari and Jason Roy, Hampshire's James Vince, Willey of Northants and Durham's Wood were handed ODI debuts on a day when there was speculation that head coach Peter Moores was set to lose his job.

Ireland, with nine players who played in their four-wicket win against West Indies in the World Cup in February, struggled in overcast conditions after Taylor had won the toss and chosen to bowl.

After Jonny Bairstow's direct hit ran out Stirling for two, Wood claimed his first ODI wicket when Porterfield chopped on to leave Ireland on 23-2. O'Brien, earlier dropped at gully by Alex Hales, was the next man to go, edging Tim Bresnan to Vince at first slip. Willey then dismissed Balbirnie courtesy of an excellent diving catch from Roy at second slip. Ireland made slow progress, although the experienced Joyce was still at the crease when rain came.

England's next match is the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's from 21 May. By Michael Emons BBC