A mere Ashes warm-up for England but this week’s Test match at Lord’s means so much more to Ireland.
Six matches, six defeats after gaining test status in 2017, so what better way to break your duck and prove you belong among the elite than by stunning England at the home of cricket.
It’s a repeat of the Lord’s encounter four years ago, when Ireland gave England an almighty scare before being skittled out for 38 in their second innings to give the hosts a 143-run victory.
The shock was on as Ireland made 207 in reply and they were chasing a victory target of 182 after England’s second innings – the highlight an unlikely 92 from nightwatchman Jack Leach.
But it was a chase which didn’t last long as Chris Woakes (6-17) and Stuart Broad (4-19) needed just 94 deliveries to polish off Ireland in short order.
