Zak Crawley is set to captain England for the first time in their One-Day International series against Ireland.

Kent opener Crawley takes charge of a group containing four uncapped players, with almost England’s entire Cricket World Cup squad rested.

Joe Root is due to play in the opener of the three-match series - on his home ground of Headingley today.

"If I can get runs and field well, that will help my captaincy a lot,” said Crawley.

“That's definitely on my mind.”

Crawley, 25, has played 39 Tests for England but has not broken into a very strong white-ball team who are world champions in both limited-overs formats.

His only previous three One-Day caps came against Pakistan in 2021 as part of an entirely new squad after the initial party was ruled out because of a Covid outbreak.

Now, he’s in charge of a party containing the uncapped quartet of Derbyshire pace bowler George Scrimshaw, Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith, Warwickshire’s Sam Hain and Lancashire left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.

He said: “It was Motty [head coach Matthew Mott] who gave me the call to say I’d be in the squad and captaining.

“I was shocked. I was just hoping to get in the team and play more for England.

“They told me I was captain and it's a great opportunity for me. It was as simple as that, he was doing the rounds phoning everyone else so it was a pretty brief phone call - but a pretty good call!”

Strong performances against the Irish could lead to the players involved being asked to be on standby for the World Cup in India, which begins on October 5.

"We all know how this England white-ball team has played over the past eight years," Crawley said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the series.

"We know how to get into the main team. It's by being aggressive, showing people what skill and quality you have.

“That's what we should all try to do this week."

Former Tonbridge School pupil Crawley has previously led Kent in two County Championship matches and two games in the T20 Blast.

He said he will lean on former Test captain Root, who is looking to find some form after managing only 39 runs in four innings amid their 3-1 series win over New Zealand.

"To have him in the side as a batsman and former captain is going to be tremendously useful for me and the team," said Crawley, who scored 158 in Canterbury during relegation-threatened Kent’s drawn County Championship Division 1 match last week with Nottinghamshire.

"No-one works harder than Joe, that's why he's the best. We all try to emulate him as much as we can.

“He's a great person to learn from and a role model."

On the England reign of Crawley, who also penned a new Kent one-year contract extension last week, Kent head coach Matt Walker said: “I think it’s brilliant.

“It’s a wonderful honour. Whatever team you are captaining for England, it’s an outstanding achievement.

“They, obviously, think very highly of him and see a future captain there which is really positive.

“We know all about Zak at Kent. We know what attributes he has as a senior player and a leader within our group.

“England have, obviously, spotted that as well. He’s had a magnificent summer.

“This is a fantastic reward or an opportunity for him to play a slightly different role.

“He can show his skills in that format for England and his skills as a leader and a captain.

“I’m really thrilled for him. He’s another Kent England captain to add to the list which is another accolade for him but, also, the club.

“I wish him all the very best over those few games.”

After the opening encounter of the three-match series, England will face Ireland at Trent Bridge this Saturday and in Bristol next Tuesday.