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:
Eoin Morgan rings the five minute bell
Former England captain and native Irishman Eoin Morgan rings the five minute bell outside the Lord’s pavilion. The national anthems are played and play is about to get underway,
More pre-match thoughts from Ben Stokes
Stopping by BBC Test Match Special, England captain Ben Stokes says he isn’t focused on the fact that this test match is only four days and is excited to play with debutant Josh Tongue.
“It was a straightforward decision with the overhead conditions.” said Stokes when explaining his decision at the toss, “We’re not really thinking about the fact that it’s four days, we still want to play our way and push the game on faster.
“We did have a lot of thinking to do for this Test in terms of our selection and which players we had available. It’ll be great to see Josh Tongue in action and for me to get a proper look at him.”
England vs Ireland
England have won the toss and will bowl first. James Anderson is being rested after picking up a groin injury for Lancashire so isn’t available to take the first over.
That leaves Stuart Broad, Matt Potts and debutant Josh Tongue. You’d put your money on Broad opening up but who will take the new ball with him?
Potts has experience at this level but Tongue has played at test level for England under-19 and first represented the England Lions aged just 19 in his debut season.
He boasts a bowling average of 26.04 in first-class cricket, having taken 162 wickets in just 47 matches. Will Ben Stokes throw him straight into the deep end?
‘We need to get through the first hour’ says Andy Balbirnie
Ireland will bat first under potentially difficult conditions with the overhead clouds providing some help to England’s seam attack.
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie explained how his team will approach the day saying: “It is a bit overcast today, if we can get through the tricky first hour and hopefully have a good day with the bat.
“We’ve got experience in the bank this year and guys are more experienced now and we’re only going to get better with more exposure.
“The main message has been to enjoy the occasion, it is a special place to play cricket but it is about bat v ball and try your hardest to combat what they can do.”
England vs Ireland
England captain Ben Stokes speaking at the toss: “It has been an exciting time and I am looking forward to what the summer holds. It starts here.
“We try to keep it as simple as we can and continue the mindset we have had as a team.”
England vs Ireland
England have won the toss and will bowl first in their first Test of the international summer against Ireland at Lord’s.
Josh Tongue could be in line for an early introduction with the ball, with Matthew Potts and Stuart Broad the other seamers.
Stokes said the day before the Test about Tongue: “He is someone who possesses a bit more pace than most of the guys who have been spoken about as the next guys in line and he's started off pretty well this year with Worcestershire as well.
“Having someone who is able to bowl with that extra pace so he can come on and change the way the game is going and have that x-factor, is always great to have in your side. I am looking forward to getting him involved.”
It will also be a return with the gloves for Bairstow, who last kept wicket for England in 2021, as a stand-in for Jos Buttler, but has not been England’s regular gloveman since 2019.
England vs Ireland
The Lord’s members are taking their seats ahead of the toss, which is due any minute now. Elsewhere the ground is starting to fill up before play starts at 11am.
England captain Ben Stokes unconcerned over ability to bowl in the Ashes
England captain Ben Stokes has no concerns over his ability to bowl in this summer’s Ashes.
Stokes’ long-standing left knee issue caused him problems during February’s tour of New Zealand and his recent time at the Indian Premier League proved frustrating.
All-rounder Stokes played only twice for Chennai Super Kings and sent down just one over for 18 runs during his IPL stint but ahead of this week’s one-off Test with Ireland at Lord’s, the 31-year-old is confident he can have an impact when the Ashes begins on June 16.
England captain Ben Stokes unconcerned over ability to bowl in the Ashes
Ben Stokes bowled only one over in the recent IPL.
Play begins at 11am. The players have been warming-up on the outfield, the weather is slightly cloudy but there are no signs of rain.
The overhead conditions could help out the bowlers this morning but there is a risk that batting will get easier as the day goes on.
Whoever wins the toss will need to decide whether they fancy themselves to get a few wickets in the opening session or whether batting through the morning gives them the best chance of winning the game.
England vs Ireland
The two teams last met in a test match at Lord’s in 2019 and England batted first.
Ireland, led by Tim Murtagh’s wicket-to-wicket medium pacers, skittled the hosts for a measly 85 before notching up a lead of 122 after the first innings.
Batting as nightwatchman, Jack Leach led England’s revival and scored 92, his highest score in test cricket, before Ireland capitulated in the final innings and were dismissed for 38.
England won by 143 runs but Ireland drew first blood with their performance on the opening day.
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