TONGUE IN A CHEEKY FIFER!

..but pluck of the Irish sends Stokes a grim Ashes warning

- GARY FITZZGERALD

JOSH TONGUE must feel like he has this Test cricket business well and truly licked already - as his five-wicket debut haul helped England finally defy an unexpected and fiery Irish fightback.

The Worcestershire seamer, 25, certainly enjoyed his first taste of the international stuff - not only seeing his name etched on the Lord's honours board but also getting the nod from the selectors to fire up for The Ashes.

On a day when Ben Stokes' prolonged chronic knee problems reared their head again - with the captain hobbling and struggling around the outfield - it was left to Tongue (5-66) to see the team through to a crushing 10-wicket win.

It was a longer third day than England expected and hoped for, but now they must prepare for a much tougher challenge over the coming weeks against an Australia side who operate on another level entirely to Ireland.

Neither Stokes, nor his bowlers apart from Tongue, will have enjoyed suffering at the hands of the Ireland batsmen.

The visitors rose to the big occasion and showed they were not just over here for this one-off clash to lift England's pre-Ashes morale.