England vs Ireland Test Stumps Day One: Murtagh the Magnificent

Tim Murtagh leads Ireland off after inspiring Ireland with a five wicket haul.

World Cup champion England has been brought back to earth with a painful bump on the eve of the Ashes, collapsing to 85 all out in a one-off Test match against plucky Ireland.

Ireland, the sport's newest Test nation alongside Afghanistan, enjoyed a fairytale outing at Lord's by skittling its host for a double-figure score on a sweltering day, before building a healthy lead to end day one 122 runs ahead.

The eurphoria of 10 days ago after England's nerve-jangling World Cup final win over New Zealand, turned to stunned disbelief as Ireland bowler Tim Murtagh caused mayhem.

He took 5-13 from just nine overs as England capitulated in 127 manic minutes, surviving only 23.4 overs — its shortest completed innings ever in terms of balls faced.

Ireland, playing only its third Test match, passed England's total before tea thanks to a free-flowing partnership between Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie.

A flurry of wickets threatened to undo good Irish work as the minnows slumped from 2-132 to 7-149.

Yet Kevin O'Brien hung around for 28 not out and Murtagh (16) clobbered some useful late runs as Ireland reached 207 all out.

England skipper Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat, handing Test debutant Jason Roy and Rory Burns the chance to lay down a marker for the looming Ashes series.

Instead, a spot-on Ireland attack ruthlessly exposed the cracks in England's batting as the hosts posted their lowest home total since scoring 77 against Australia in 1997.

Murtagh, the London-born 37-year-old Middlesex stalwart, took lethal advantage of his local knowledge on a green-tinged Lord's wicket and some bog-standard England batting.

When Stuart Broad walked out to bat with the hosts on 7-43, England had lost six wickets for seven runs.

White-ball specialist Roy, superb throughout the World Cup, had a let-off when Mark Adair had him plumb lbw off a no ball. But in Murtagh's second over Roy (5) edged to Stirling, who took a low slip catch.

Joe Denly looked assured for 23, but in the 10th over Test rookie Adair shaped a ball into his pads for an lbw.

Cue an astonishing collapse.

Burns scratched around for 6 but played loosely at a full Murtagh delivery and edged behind to Gary Wilson.

With Root and Jonny Bairstow, two of the four England players to have played in the World Cup final, at the wicket, an England fightback was expected. It never materialised.

Root (2) was squared up by Adair and was struck on both pads and not even a hopeful review could spare him.

Murtagh then bowled a wafting Bairstow through the gate for a duck and two balls later Chris Woakes (0) was lbw to a ball that nipped back off the seam.

Moeen Ali then edged Murtagh through to Wilson as the 37-year-old sealed his five-wicket haul.

Curran attempted a counter-attack but the carnage continued as Broad (3) edged Boyd Rankin, once an England player, behind.

Sam Curran was snaffled for 18 at short leg off Rankin to leave England on 9-67. Olly Stone struck three boundaries in an over as England surpassed the 77 runs it scored against West Indies in January but he was bowled for 19 as Adair wrapped things up.

Ireland began steadily but Curran dismissed skipper William Porterfield (14) and James McCollum (19).

Stirling and Balbirnie rode their luck but played some flashing strokes as Ireland seized control.

Broad broke the partnership on 87, trapping Stirling lbw for 36. Balbirnie, who was earlier dropped off Broad, brought up his 50 in 56 balls but became Stone's first Test victim, losing his middle stump.

Stone eventually finished with three for 29, with Broad and Curran also taking three apiece.

THE STAR

Ireland celebrate Tim Murtagh's fifth wicket as they decimated England.

Tim Murtagh, the English-born Middlesex stalwart, starred for Ireland on Day One. Finishing with 5 for 13 off 9 overs, including 2 maidens, Murtagh became the first Irish player to take 5 wickets in a test match, and the first to have their name put onto the Lord’s honour board. With conditions perfect for his fuller length of bowling, Murtagh peppered the outside edge of the English batsmen and managed to nip a few back in between loose shots. At 37 years of age, it’s the kind of spell that wishes he had a full career in Test cricket.

THE MOMENT

Mark Adair appeals for the LBW of Joe Denly.

Despite being the new boys on the block, the Irish had no hesitation in challenging not only the English, but the umpires too. Twice they managed to successfully overturn an umpires decision. First, the LBW of Joe Denly, England’s top scorer, and then the faintest of edges through to the Irish keeper Gary Wilson. You could have forgiven Ireland for holding onto their reviews, they had England in all sorts and they both seemed to have considerable doubt from the viewing box, but they were proven right!

THE FAILURE

Joe Root trudges towards the long room after being dismissed for just two.

Seems hard to take aim at any of the English top order, but they were abysmal. Joe Root needed to stand up as the captain of this side, in their only red ball match before the Ashes. Root will have a chance sometime on day two to make amends and show the English fans that they have shaken their World Cup hangover. Unfortunately for England, the Australian attack is absolutely firing at the moment and will be hoping to watch England crumble again on Day Two.