A team that hasn’t played any recognizable International teams in the past year or so, finally coming up against a team fresh from success, and showing what they’re capable of, all at the Home Of Cricket in the pinnacle of all formats, Test Cricket.
On a fresh Lord’s pitch, England captain Joe Root elected to bat. A toss which will probably go down as one of his most regrettable decisions as England skipper. The innings of the home side was over before it begun, with Ireland’s opening bowler Tim Murtagh ripping through the home side’s batting line up, sending Rory Burns and debutante Jason Roy back into the sheds in his first spell. Pacer Mark Adair was quick to hop on the same boat as he picked up 3 crucial wickets of Denly, Root, and Stone.
Murtagh came back for his second spell to clean up Bairstow, Ali and Woakes, picking up a 5 wicket haul in the process and getting his name up on the honor’s board at Lord’s. England were in absolute disarray, being bowled out for 85 in just 23.4 overs, when nobody had expected Ireland to show up and perform like they did. 20 wickets fell on just on Day 1, as England were quick to bowl Ireland out too, but not before they got 207, and a lead of 122 on the board.
The performance from Ireland has shown everyone just how lethal they can be, and have probably made headlines all across the globe about the dent they can put on any opposition, even if they’ve lifted a World Cup recently.
-Vibhor Dubey
The Average Cricketer 