England vs Ireland LIVE: Test cricket score and updates as England trail by 20 runs at stumps
England are 152-1 in response to Ireland’s 172 all out
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Your support makes all the difference.England kicked off the summer a superb performance on the opening day of their four-day test match against Ireland. With the clouds hanging overhead in this morning Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl.
In the absence of James Anderson, Stuart Broad led the attack and gave England the early initiative reducing the visitors to 19-3. James McCollum (36) dug in but couldn’t stop the host from running rampant. Jack Leach was backed once again by his captain and was rewarded with three wickets while Matt Potts chipped in with a couple but it was Broad’s day. He took 5-51 to get on the Lord’s honours board as Ireland were dismissed for just 172.
In response England’s opening pair made hay in the early evening sunshine. Zak Crawley rode his luck on his way to 56 before chipping a drive back to Fionn Hand who claimed his maiden test wicket for Ireland. Ben Duckett (60*) and Ollie Pope (29*) saw England safely through to the end of the day with the deficit just 20 runs.
Relive the action from Day One at Lord’s as England take on Ireland:
Ireland 60-3, McCollum 24, Stirling 26, Broad 3-21 (6)
England definitely think there’s a weakness to James McCollum’s game when digging the ball in short. A change in field brings a catcher in at midwicket but McCollum takes him out of the game with a perfectly timed pull shot in front of square.
Four runs for the opening batter.
Ireland 56-3, McCollum 20, Stirling 26, Broad 3-17 (5.4)
Broad sends one short and wide outside the off stump and Stirling fancies it. He doesn’t get across to the ball but manages to guide it through the gap between third slip and backward point.
It races down to the third man boundary for three runs.
Ireland 53-3, McCollum 20, Stirling 23, Broad 3-14 (5)
Ben Stokes may have just felt that Josh Tongue was losing his rhythm after that attack from Paul Stirling. He replaces the 25-year-old with Stuart Broad who’ll have another burst from the Pavilion End before lunch.
Ireland 53-3, McCollum 20, Stirling 23, Leach 0-10 (4)
Stirling has been eyeing up Leach for a couple of overs and dances up the wicket to play an expansion stroke down the ground.
Leach gets a hand to the ball to cut out any runs and Stirling sensibly pushes the next delivery into the legside to collect one.
Ireland 51-3, McCollum 20, Stirling 21, Tongue 0-16 (3.2)
50 up for Ireland! Paul Stirling twice despatches Josh Tongue to the point boundary as the debutant is too loose with his short balls.
The first delivery is cut powerfully away by Stirling who gets above the bounce to drill it across the deck and the second is punched, more delicately, into the gap.
Solid batting.
Ireland 43-3, McCollum 20, Stirling 13, Leach 0-9 (3)
There seems to be two differing methods from the batters to deal with Jack Leach. Paul Stirling is trying to get forward and will advance down the track while James McCollum prefers to handle him off the back foot.
Two singles come from the over as both batters decide to play risk free cricket.
Ireland 41-3, McCollum 19, Stirling 12, Tongue 0-8 (3)
That is very good. Josh Tongue is a touch to wide of the off stump and slightly short with his length. McCollum, who has been fighting away this morning, senses an opportunity to score and punches him through point for four runs!
He takes a single off the final ball of the over and will be growing in confidence.
Ireland 36-3, McCollum 14, Stirling 12, Tongue 0-3 (2.3)
McCollum is beaten on the inside edge as Tongue nips back into the right-hander. There’s a little noise as the ball flies between the bat and the batter so Ben Stokes decides to have a look after England appeal for caught behind.
DRS shows that there’s no edge and the ball clipped the pocket of McCollum’s trousers on the way through to Jonny Bairstow. He survives and England lose a review.
Ireland 36-3, McCollum 14, Stirling 12, Tongue 0-3 (2.2)
Stirling turns Tongue into the leg side to collect another run and takes the first run off the debutant.
Tongue then decides to challenge McCollum with a bouncer but the opener gets on top of the ball and hooks it over to the square leg boundary for two runs.
Ireland 33-3, McCollum 12, Stirling 11, Leach 0-7 (2)
Paul Stirling will try to be positive and will see Jack Leach as the easiest option to score runs against. Leach is slightly short with his length allowing Stirling to hop onto the back foot and cut the ball away for one.
This over has been a good response from Leach. He’s darted a few into the pitch and tried to limit the batter’s opportunities to sweep.
Just one from the over.
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