Ireland crashed to the seventh lowest total in the history of Test cricket – and a heavy 143-run defeat – against England at Lord’s on Friday.
Pursuing a modest 182-run total, the Irish crashed to 38 all out at the hands of seamers Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad in the one-off Test in London. Woakes gathered telling figures of six for 17 to Broad’s four for 19.
Only New Zealand, South Africa (four times) and Australia have been bowled out for less in Test cricket.
While England welcomed a dominant showing with the ball ahead of the start of the Ashes series next week, Ireland hardly did their relatively recent graduation to Test status any favours.
The fixture, which was scheduled for just four days amid a trial by the International Cricket Council, required less than three.
The hosts had been bowled out for 85 in their first innings before responding with 303 all out in the second. These scores flanked Ireland’s first-innings effort of 207 all out. All 40 wickets fell across just 175.3 overs.
The match will largely remembered for the collective ineptitude by England’s batsmen amid Ireland’s success with the ball on Wednesday, followed by vice versa performances on Friday. Meanwhile, five-fors for Broad, Woakes and Tim Murtagh – and nightwatchman and Player of the Match Jack Leach’s near century – lined the individual accolades.
The first Ashes Test will start at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Thursday.
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