England vs Ireland LIVE: Test cricket score and updates as Josh Tongue picks up three wickets on dominant day
England are closing in on victory after a dominant display at Lord’s
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Your support makes all the difference.England are on the verge of a first victory of the summer after record-breaking innings by Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett almost saw Ireland defeated inside two days at Lord’s.
Duckett did the early damage and showed exactly why he is perfect for Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style with a century on his maiden Test appearance on home soil.
The Nottinghamshire opener made it to 150 off the same number of balls to snatch the record for quickest Test 150 at Lord’s off Australian great Don Bradman before his fun was ended on 182 that came at a strike rate of 102.84.
Duckett had shared a 252-run partnership for the second wicket with Pope, who was not at his fluent best initially but freed up after reaching his fourth hundred and subsequently registered the quickest Test double-century in England.
When Pope was stumped after crashing 22 fours and three maximums in his 205 innings from 208 balls, Stokes declared on 524 for four with Ireland needing 352 to make England bat again but more pressingly required to bat through the evening session to force a third day of this one-off Test.
Three wickets for debutant Josh Tongue in a terrific spell threatened the possibility England could wrap up victory inside two days but Harry Tector stood firm to guide Ireland to the close on 97 for three, although opener James McCollum is unlikely to bat again after he retired hurt.
Stokes’ bold declaration was in keeping with England’s desire to go against convention but it does mean himself, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow are all short of time at the crease ahead of the Ashes opener on June 16.
Pat Cummins and co will not be as generous at Edgbaston as red-ball novices Ireland have been this week in only their seventh Test, but the emergence of Tongue makes this a worthwhile exercise.
England 167-1, Duckett 66, Pope 37, Hume 0-43 (10), trail by 5
Hume started the over with a tight line, restricting the batters, but a boundary off the final ball from Ollie Pope keeps England’s run rate high and the scoring pushing on
England 160-1, Duckett 65, Pope 31, Adair 0-59 (8), trail by 12
A ball past the bat! A hint of something from Ireland, but it didn’t catch the edge, and Duckett was able to rotate the strike next ball with a flick off the legs.
Pope’s intent was evident as he advances down the ground to Irish medium-pacer Mark Adair, but it’s been a tighter over than the opener.
England 159 - 1 Duckett 65, Pope 31, Hume 0-36 (9), trail by 16
At the start of the day it looked like Ireland might have to capitalise at the start of the day, with the slightly overcast sky due to clear up throughout the day.
But there was no respite when Duckett cut the first ball for four as England picked up exactly where they left off, capitalising on a poor start from Hume.
He tightened up as the over continued but England were able to keep rotating the strike.
Start of play: England 152-1, Pope 29, Duckett 60, Hume 0-29 (8) trail by 20
The teams are out in the middle and everything is set for the start of Day 2. Graham Hume will take the first over for Ireland with Ben Duckett on strike resuming on his overnight score of 60.
What is Bazball? How England revolutionised Test cricket
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have neither ripped up the cricket rule book, nor invented a new shot, but they have transformed England’s fortunes from rock bottom to entertainers.
There has always been the old question: ‘How can you not know after almost five days, which side is winning?’ But in cricket’s oldest and longest format, that has often been the case. Until recently when England sought to eliminate one of the outcomes - the draw - from their approach to Test cricket, and re-brand themselves ‘rockstars’.
The result has been thrilling for everyone who has watched England over the past 15 months. The records have tumbled, the team’s fortunes have been transformed, and crowds left wanting more.
What is Bazball? How England revolutionised Test cricket
Stokes and McCullum have lifted England from rock-bottom to ‘rockstars’
Daniel Vettori: England’s winning habit more impressive than style of cricket
Daniel Vettori insists it is England’s winning habit rather than their ‘Bazball’ style that has earned the respect of Australia ahead of this summer’s Ashes.
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have inspired a thrilling revival of England’s Test team, winning 10 out of 12 matches by adopting an aggressive, never say die mindset.
Australia are aiming to retain the Ashes when the series opens at Edgbaston on June 16 and assistant coach Vettori, who played alongside McCullum for New Zealand, insists the hosts’ results trump how they were achieved.
Daniel Vettori: England’s winning habit more impressive than style of cricket
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have transformed England’s Test team with 10 wins from 12 matches.
England vs Ireland
Day 2 of this England vs Ireland test match kicks off at 11am. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope will stride out for England and look to overturn the remaining 20 run deficit.
The Hundred overhaul ‘not something that’s on agenda’ for ECB boss Richard Gould
Richard Gould, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has insisted making changes to the format of The Hundred is “not something that’s on my agenda”.
The peak summer month of August has been controversially ring-fenced for the third season of The Hundred, which still polarises opinion among cricket fans and is exclusively played in the UK.
Reports last month suggested its structure was being considered and the theory gained traction with the news Sanjay Patel, mastermind and managing director of The Hundred, would leave the ECB in September.
The Hundred overhaul ‘not something that’s on agenda’ for ECB boss Richard Gould
The Hundred still polarises opinion among cricket fans and is exclusively played in the UK.
Ben Stokes: ‘Superhuman’ England captain’s cricket revolution now faces the ultimate test
It is conceivable that none of England’s greatest cricketing successes over the last five years would have happened without Ben Stokes. The 2019 World Cup, the miracle at Headingley and the 2023 Twenty20 World Cup success hinged on the abilities of one man, who has most recently transformed England’s Test fortunes.
Born in Christchurch, Stokes moved to Cumbria aged 12 after his father was appointed rugby league coach in the area, and New Zealand’s loss proved to be England’s gain.
Stokes’ first Test century came in the hostile conditions at Perth during the ill-fated 2013-14 Ashes, where the then-22-year-old became only the third Englishman to score a century in the city since 1987.
Ben Stokes: ‘Superhuman’ England captain’s cricket revolution faces ultimate test
Stokes has inspired some of English cricket’s greatest moments and, as Sonia Twigg writes, is poised to elevate his legacy further in the Ashes after overcoming adversity
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