England battles as Irish roar

FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan has branded England’s astonishing battling collapse against minnow Ireland at Lord’s as “embarrassing” after the hosts were skittled for 85 on the first day of the four-day Test.

In their first Test match in a summer dominated by the one-day World Cup, England could not even muster three figures against a nation playing its third Test match ever.

At lunch last night, the home side had made a better fist of its second innings, reaching 1-122 to draw level after dismissing the Irish in their first dig for 207.

But earlier, a week before Joe Root’s side takes on Australia in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Ireland’s London-born seamer Tim Murtagh (pictured above) exposed the fragility of England’s first-innings batting, taking 5-13 in nine superb overs on a pitch that, while offering some movement, should not have held terrors for a top nation.

England lasted 23.4 overs as it was bowled out before lunch on the first morning of a Lord’s Test for the first time.

To make matters worse Ireland was playing just its third match since being given Test status in 2017 — the previous two against Pakistan and Afghanistan ending in defeats.

While Murtagh bowled a superb line and length, England’s batsmen were guilty of loose strokes as they ended the first day 122 runs behind as Ireland made 207.

“There were some good balls but there was also some timid play and poor strokes. Let’s be honest, it’s an embarrassment,” Vaughan said.