England vs Ireland Test Day 1 only: Host Stuart Broad takes charge with ‘buzzball’ after Phifer

England took early control of the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s on Thursday, with Stuart Broad taking five wickets to help bowl out the visitors for 172, before Ben Stokes’ men were left just 20 runs behind. England reached stumps on the first day at 152–1, opener Ben Duckett scoring 60 off 71 balls and Ollie Pope scoring 29 off almost a run a ball.

It was an ideal start to their international summer for England, who are using the match as a warm-up for their Ashes series against Australia, starting on June 16. The Ashes but, aged 36, he continued to perform for his country and had team-high figures of 5-51 as Ireland were bowled out after tea in 56.2 overs. This was Broad’s 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Broad has five! ,

Mark Adair clean bowled at the pavilion end.

What a start to summer, Brody! , #englandcricket , #engineering pic.twitter.com/z9lZkOThEl– England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2023

Offspinner Jack Leach weighed in with 3-35 and Ireland’s top scorer was opener James McCollum with 36. Already facing a tough challenge, Ireland – looking for their first win in just their seventh match at Test level – could not contain an England top-order that continued to demand captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum into the new era. attack accordingly.

Zak Crawley scored 56 off 45 balls before being caught – on the second grab – off a powerful straight drive by debutant seam bowler Fionn Hand. Crawley and Duckett put on 109 for the first wicket, and Duckett was still at the end in the evening sunshine as part of a 43-run partnership with Pope.

England gave a debut to seamer Josh Tong, who went wicketless. Jonny Bairstow returned as wicketkeeper in the first international match since August, having missed five Tests due to a broken leg. Before the start of the match, the England players’ bus was briefly stopped at their hotel by protesters against new fossil fuel production.

Ireland have recorded World Cup victories against England in 50-over and T20 tournaments, but have never beaten England in a Test. In their previous Test matchup at Lord’s in 2019, Ireland had given England a scare after bowling the home side out for 58 in the first innings.

Find full live scorecard of the England vs Ireland Test here.