Stuart Broad took his 20th Test five-wicket haul as England dominated Ireland (Picture: Getty)
England kick-started the Ashes summer by bowling out Ireland cheaply at Lord’s and then showcasing the aggressive batting they hope will stun Australia.
Stuart Broad marshalled an inexperienced bowling attack which included debutant Josh Tongue, claiming his 20th Test five-wicket haul in Ireland’s 172.
The visitors threatened to emulate England’s 85 all out from this fixture four years ago when they slipped to 19-3, but contributions from James McCollum, Curtis Campher and Paul Stirling – all dismissed in the 30s – took Ireland to a below-par but respectable total.
Rapid fifties from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in an opening stand of 109 saw England take complete control and show they have no plans of altering an approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum that is proving as successful as it is exciting.
In the absence of his long-time opening partner James Anderson – rested ahead of the Ashes – Broad quickly began a match-defining spell when England won the toss in overcast and chilly conditions.
Ireland opener Peter Moor clipped Matthew Potts away for the first boundary of the Test but was unable to repeat the trick against Broad, who found enough movement to claim wicket No. 577.
Broad – playing his 162nd Test – struck again in his next over, Crawley alert in the slips to send Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie back for a duck.
Ireland were three down and reeling two balls later as Harry Tector was caught at leg-slip, Broad celebrating his third wicket in eight deliveries.
It almost got even worse for Ireland as Stirling survived a DRS review from his first ball to deny Broad the chance to take a third Test hat-trick.
Stirling began to take advantage of his reprieve, cutting and sweeping his way to 30, though England still looked dangerous through Tongue, whose first two overs in Test cricket were both maidens.
McCollum also frustrated England with a patient rearguard but he needed another partner when Jack Leech took his first wicket of the match, forcing an error from Stirling that left Ireland 78-4 at lunch.
The wickets continued to tumble in the afternoon session – Ireland’s top-scorer McCollom nicking off for 36 and Lorcan Tucker trapped LBW – as England took control.
Potts, making his sixth Test appearance, got in on the act when he found the edge of Andy McBrine – but Ireland at least passed 150 when Campher hit boundaries off Tongue and Broad.
Despite the pitch flattening out, Ireland’s hopes of reaching 200 were soon over as they lost their final three wickets for three runs in the space of 16 balls.
Broad once again made the breakthrough, getting the ball to nip back and beat Mark Adair for his 20th Test five-wicket haul – only 22 players in history have more.
Leech finished with three wickets after deceiving the charging Campher and Potts wrapped up an impressive bowling performance with his second of the day.
Needing early wickets, Ireland could do little to halt an onslaught from Crawley and Duckett, who found the boundary ropes at will in a thrilling opening stand.
Crawley, in need of a score after a mixed start to the County Championship season, survived three inside edges but also produced several brilliant strokes on his way to a 39-ball half-century.
Duckett was not far behind his opening partner, his first home Test fifty coming from 53 balls.
Fionn Hand’s superb catch of his own bowling brought an end to Crawley’s innings but the runs kept coming from Duckett and Ollie Pope as England reached 152-1 by the close, trailing by just 20.
More to follow…
An impressive start to a huge summer for England.