Ireland ended England's World Cup honeymoon in dramatic style on Wednesday, bowling out the host nation for a derisory 85 on the first day at Lord's as they eyed one of the biggest shocks in Test history.
Tim Murtagh took five wickets on a ground where he plays for Middlesex and at tea Ireland's batsmen were cruising at 127 for two in replay -- a first-innings lead of 42 runs.
Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling, also both Middlesex players, were 51 and 35 not out in a match only scheduled to last four days rather than the usual five for a Test. Ten days after winning won the World Cup at the same ground against New Zealand and a week ahead of the Ashes, Ireland exposed England's batting fragility in brutal fashion.
Just three England batsmen made it into double figures -- Joe Denly, who top-scored with 23, Olly Stone and Sam Curran -- in an innings that was over inside 24 overs on a baking day in London.
But of those only Denly is a top-order player, with fast bowler Stone making his debut in the first-ever Test between England and Ireland.
It was the fourth time in 34 Tests that England had lost all 10 wickets in a session -- a worrying sign ahead of the five-Test series against Australia.
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Much of the pre-match talk had contained warnings about Murtagh's ability but a return of five wickets for 13 runs in nine overs was the stuff of schoolboy fiction.
The 37-year-old seamer, who recently took his 800th first-class wicket, gave a classic demonstration of his skill after England captain Joe Root won the toss and batted on an emerald green pitch prepared by Irish groundsman Karl McDermott.
- 'Fantastic session' -
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"It's a dream just to play here in the first place. But to get on the honours board.... It's a fantastic first session for us."
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