Broad happy to kickstart summer with fifer against Ireland

A 20th fifer for Stuart Broad was the highlight of Day 1 of the solitary England-Ireland Test at Lord’s as the hosts began the summer in cracking fashion. His 5 for 51, which skittled Ireland for 172, should serve as a confidence booster for the veteran seamer ahead of the high-profile Ashes.

Ireland’s top-order failed to combat the mastery of Broad, who picked all three wickets as the scoreline read a grim 19/3. Paul Stirling and James McCollum weathered the storm with a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket before the former fell sweeping towards the end of the morning session.

Lorcan Tucker and McCollum waded through the remaining 25 minutes of play without any further damage and went to Lunch safely on 8 and 29 respectively. The hosts struck promptly post Lunch, dismissing McCollum, who had waded through the testing period in the morning session even as wickets tumbled from the other end. Just five overs later, Lorcan Tucker was adjudged lbw courtesy a missed a sweep off Jack Leach, taking a review along with him on his way out.

A promising innings from Andy McBrine came to an end on 19 when he went for a drive off Matthew Potts only to get a thick outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Mark Adair hung around for a while but England snuffed out the tail promptly to keep the tourists to a lowly first-innings total.