Murtagh the destroyer leaves England in tatters

Tim Murtagh has claimed a five-wicket haul at Lord's to destroy England's top order and leave the hosts facing humiliation on day one of their first-ever Test meeting after they were bowled out for 85.

Murtagh claimed 5-13 in a nine-over spell to open the Test match after England captain Joe Root won the toss and decided to bat in their one-off, four-day Test match.

Murtagh, who had 291 first-class wickets before the Test match – many of them on the Lord's ground where he plays county cricket with Middlesex – was in devastating form as England collapsed to 7-43 in the first 15 overs of the Test.

Murtagh shared the new ball with Mark Adair who picked up two quick wickets on his Test debut, then returned to claim the final wicket to finish with 3-32 form 7.4 overs.

SCORECARD: England v Ireland Test

World Cup opener Jason Roy was also on Test debut for England as they look to solve their long-standing top order woes, but was able to make just five from 11 balls before he nicked off to become Murtagh's first wicket.

Image Id: 77436D08A780481884763FAE2C114B07 Image Caption: Murtagh salutes his five-wicket haul // Getty

Joe Denly struck four boundaries before he was trapped on the pad by Adair for his first wicket that left England 2-36 in the 10th over.

That became 3-36 five balls later when Murtagh found the edge of left-handed opener Rory Burns' bat for wicketkeeper Gary Wilson to snare the catch.

And Adair picked up the key wicket of England captain Root next over when he trapped the skipper on the back leg.

The ball hit both pads on its way through and a brave review from Ireland captain William Porterfield was rewarded with a wicket as third umpire Paul 'Blocker' Wilson confirmed there was no bat, and three red lights.

Root's exit sparked a collapse within the collapse as England went from 3-42 to 7-43 in 15 balls.

Image Id: 37994D86FDD542A79ECF5D280697C5A6 Image Caption: Mark Adair's lbw appeal for Joe Root's wicket // Getty

Jonny Bairstow – who had caused consternation by standing so far outside of his crease that he was encroaching on the danger zone of the pitch and had to be warned by the umpires to step back – was bowled after playing down the wrong line of a Murtagh delivery.

Chris Woakes was struck on the pad in the same over, and immediately reviewed the decision but a verdict of 'umpire's call' on the height saw him trudge off.

And Moeen Ali wafted at a ball to edge behind to complete Murtagh's five-wicket haul.

It took an excellent catch from Wilson and another excellent review from Porterfield for Ireland to remove Stuart Broad, who had feathered an edge off Boyd Rankin to a ball that seamed back in and was angling down the leg side as it passed the batsman. 

Rankin had a second when he got Sam Curran to fend a ball to James McCollum under the helmet, before Test debutant Olly Stone struck a series of boundaries against Stuart Thompson.

But Stone was the last man out when bowled by Adair for 19 - England's second highest score of the morning as their innings ended in just 23.4 overs.

Image Id: 71B9795C7F094DBAB8EE788722DFD250 Image Caption: Olly Stone was the last Englishman out // Getty

With high temperatures forecast, Root's decision to bat under sunny skies in Ireland's first Test against England had seemed understandable.

"It looks quite dry underneath," said Root after he won the toss on a green-tinged pitch prepared by Irish groundsman Karl McDermott, in his first season at Lord's.

"We're playing two spinners so we need to make the most of that. Hopefully we can get ourselves in, make a big score and take the game from there," Root added.

The match takes place just a week before the start of a five-Test Ashes series.

World Cup-winning opening batsman Roy and fast bowler Stone, in for the injured James Anderson, are making their Test debuts. Rory Burns, Joe Denly and Jack Leach – one of two spinners selected by England along with Moeen Ali – are making their home debuts.

Image Id: 5B862C21BEF94437AF0B274241CCABD9 Image Caption: Murtagh calls Lord's home in county cricket // Getty

It is just Ireland's third Test following a loss at home to Pakistan in 2018 and a defeat by Afghanistan in India earlier this year.

Their side included batsman Paul Stirling and seamer Murtagh, who both play for Lord's based-Middlesex, as well as former England fast bowler Boyd Rankin.

"There might be a bit in it (the pitch) for the first few hours so hopefully we can utilise that," said Ireland captain Porterfield.

"Quite a few guys have played a lot of county cricket around the country so that experience is there," he added.

The match is being played over four days rather than the standard five for a Test match.

It is the first time England have been involved in a scheduled four-day Test since a 1971 tour of New Zealand and the first such match in England since 1947.

England XI: Jason Roy, Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Olly Stone, Jack Leach

Ireland XI: William Porterfield (capt), James McCollum,  Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien, Gary Wilson (wkt), Stuart Thompson, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin