Leach Digs Top Order Out Of Hole As Ireland Slip Away

Joe Root may have been right about the pitch but that wasn’t the only thing that was sub-standard during this one-off Test that saw England eventually shake off their World Cup hangover to beat Ireland with relative ease at Lord’s.

- Chris Stocks

There were just 10 days between the one-day team’s momentous, thrilling victory in the World Cup final against New Zealand at the same venue and this match that although historic for Ireland was acting as an Ashes warm-up for Root’s team.

There was no Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler, the pair rested after their World Cup heroics. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood were also absent through injury.

But five of the squad who won the tournament were in the team here and none covered themselves in glory other than Chris Woakes, whose career-best 6-17 on the final day helped rout Ireland for 38 as their pursuit of 182 for a shock win was halted in just 15.4 overs.

It was an embarrassing end to what had been a fine performance by the Irish before that. On day one, powered by Middlesex journeyman Tim Murtagh’s 5-13, they had dismissed England for just 85.

Then after making 207 to establish a 122-run lead, the visitors were at it again, taking 7-77 to restrict England to 303 in their second innings.

But for a remarkable knock of 92 from night-watchman Jack Leach, this game would have been much closer.

Leach had come in late on day one to protect debutant Jason Roy. The pair would share a 145run stand on the second day to haul England back into the ascendency, Roy’s 72 in 78 balls a promising sign ahead of next week’s first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.