England v Ireland Test match: day one – live

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WICKET! Tucker lbw b Leach 18 (Ireland 104-6)

Decision stands! Pitching just in line with the off-stump, impact in line too and the ball is touching quite a bit of the off bail. Tucker has go to. Leach has two!

TUCKER GIVEN LBW SWEEPING! Leach loved it. Was he outside the line when contact was made? Bouncing too much? He’s sent it to the third umpire.

35th over: Ireland 104-5 (Tucker 18, Campher 4) That swing point I was making before - CricViz showing just 0.6 degrees in the opening session - that has jumped to 0.9 degrees since. “It is really hooping now for Broad.” says Athers on Sky, bolstering that point. Another shout for lbw after the review – again, doing too much.

NOT OUT! No, that isn’t out. Hit him fairly full but was doing bits, as they say on Love Island (okay, so I’m told). Missing by a couple of ball-widths.

England review! Has Broad trapped Campher with an inswinger? Paul Wilson says no but Ben Stokes wants another look and his bowler isn’t arguing. We go upstairs.

34th over: Ireland 104-5 (Tucker 18, Campher 4) Tucker playing within himself against Leach, looking to sweep when he can but not much else. Bowling nicely.

33rd over: Ireland 104-5 (Tucker 18, Campher 4) Eventful over from Broad, getting into Tucker early on with sharp movement back and finishing the over with a superb delivery at Campher that shapes away to beat the edge. Between times, the new man edged a four between Bairstow and Root, an inswinger that seemed to follow the bat – wouldn’t have carried even if Bairstow put in a dive, which he should’ve. Tipping if I do a twitter search for “Ben Foakes” a few results might pop up right now.

"Turning to less controversial matters than Paul Stirling’s age and first-ball review,” says Brian Withington, “I loved Paul Hayne’s Boycottian musings (over 15). Warming to this theme (see what I did there), in view of the latest Japanese report suggesting increased fog and iceberg risk to the Northwest Passage shipping route, should we now be referring to this as ‘The Corridor of Uncertainty’? I’ll get my coat.” All over it!

32nd over: Ireland 99-5 (Tucker 17, Campher 0) Tucker takes a single to square leg to start, Campher then gets his eye in against Leach – nothing but defence.

31st over: Ireland 98-5 (Tucker 16, Campher 0) In walks Big Curtis Campher. Not a huge lad but he has a big ticker. The 24yo also has a Test ton, 111 v Sri Lanka earlier this year, and a couple of half-centuries against England, in those bio-bubble ODIs at Southampton in 2020. They were first two matches for Ireland after qualifying, coming over to become a full-timer from South Africa, his country of birth. He’s through the two remaining deliveries in Broad’s over. His figures are 10-4-28-4.

Kim Thonger is back with his northern pronunciation guide. “My wife says tongue like tong with a heavy emphasis on the g. She is a Derbyshire lass. I barely understand her most of the time.

WICKET! McCollum c Root b Broad 36 (Ireland 98-5)

One of the most conventional of Broad’s now 580 Test wickets. Just enough movement up the slope and despite taking weight out of his bottom hand, the edge flies straight into Root’s bread basket. There’s a bobble but no dramas. 108 deliveries for McCollum’s 36, did a very good job in the circumstances, but Ireland are back in a spot of bother again with Broad taking four of the first five in this opening day.

England's Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Ireland's James McCollum. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

30th over: Ireland 94-4 (McCollum 37, Tucker 16) Good from McCollum too, looking to transfer a bit of pressure back onto the bowlers since lunch, getting down low to sweep the first of Leach’s new over and fine enough it goes for four. Played. Tucker has one ball to deal with to finish and looks to do something similar but there’s too much bounce – the way Stirling fell earlier. I said it before lunch but Bairstow really is relishing the chance to be a third voice on commentary via the stump mic now that he has the gloves back. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t putting any of the Sky team out of a job with his analysis, but he sounds really happy and that makes me happy.

29th over: Ireland 89-4 (McCollum 32, Tucker 16) Lorcan Tucker wants to pull and so he does, jumping down the track before climbing into Disco Stu, over mid-on for four. Watched him take down Starc and Cummins at co at The Gabba last November – he’s a brave player with a lot of shots and a great (albeit brief) Test record.

28th over: Ireland 84-4 (McCollum 31, Tucker 12) Leach not Potts from the Nursery End? Alright. Four runs from it with Tucker, who will be the more aggressive of this pair, sweeping a couple then punching a single to deep cover. McCollum follows suit.

“Hi Adam.” Brian Withington! All my favourites are dropping a line in today, for which I’m most grateful. You can too. “Great to have you back where you belong on the OBO for the first Lords Test of the summer.”

Just want to stress that this is entirely on me and my diary rather than the good people at Guardian Sport HQ. Unfortunately, there’s no way to combine radio commentary and an OBO due to the way the schedules work, and doing as much of that as I am, it means I miss out on these. But I’ll return any chance I get.

“I see my good mate Romeo has been dishing it out in relation to the veteran Stirling, where I have some sympathy (being truly ancient) for his gentle remonstration. However, as for giving the blessed Nas grief (over 11), I would humbly submit that it’s only fair to acknowledge that Stirling was indeed ‘saved by the review’, since the prediction that the ball was missing the stumps by a centimetre would have been of little comfort without him undertaking said review. At the risk of pedantry (who, moi?), Stirling would only have been saved by the ‘fact’ of the ball missing the stumps if the ball had not, in fact, hit his pads, thereby rendering any need for a review moot. (In passing, I abhor the term ‘GOAT’ almost as much as ‘stellar’.)

Finally, can I add to Andrew Howard’s deserved commendation of the OBO (over 19) by suggesting that the internet was also invented for the Guardian’s CCLive featuring the High Priestess of Jinxery (aka Tanya Aldred) and its devoted BTL community; and most especially for Romeo’s own spin-off website (before my access privileges are withdrawn for impertinence)!”

Once again, great to have you with us today, Brian.

27th over: Ireland 80-4 (McCollum 30, Tucker 9) McCollum is super disciplined but he sure likes that square drive, which he has a dart at here but misses – well outside the off-stump. Would’ve been an ugly way to get out just after the interval. In fairness, watching the replay it swung, loads. On swing – how’s this: in the CricViz database (begins 2006) there’s never been a first morning at Lord’s where the ball has swung less. And there wasn’t much nip either, compared to last year at least.

Also, I received a clarification from a colleague while eating that these are 90 over days not 98 over days. What’s going on there? In 2019, the four-day Tests played were with an extra half an hour (eight overs) tacked on, the argument from four-day Test proponents being that you got, in theory, half a day back this way. Something like that. But this is just four days of the standard variety. Sure, unlikely this will be a thing this week but I don’t like the precedent this sets. Sorry to rant.

The players are back on the field. Much nicer day now, clouds clearing while I was enjoying my carbs with carbs and carbs from the dining room. I ran the Edinburgh half-marathon on Sunday and was enjoying being able to load up as I saw fit but I better cut my cloth soon. Broad to begin for England from the Pavilion End.

“Good afternoon Adam!” Kim Thonger, great to see your name pop up. “I used to know a nice German chap called Bernd, whose name was pronounced like burnt*, and I do encourage Josh Tongue to consider this as a name for his first male child? *Ideally with a Liverpool accent”

Athers (who is an OBO reader and might see this when he isn’t commentating) has been saying Tongue like ‘tongs’ on telly. Is that a Lancashire accent thing too?

Right, time for a bit of food. Geoff Lemon and were given the better part of an hour with ECB boss Richard Gould yesterday at Lord’s – a most worthwhile conversation on a range of topics relating to various challenges he’s inherited. Should make for good lunch listening, especially those with an interest in The Hundred. Back soon.

England take the honours but Ireland push back. At 19-3, mid-collapse, Paul Stirling was given out first ball. That was, Hawkeye said, missing the leg stump by just 1cm – enough to save him. It gave the visitors a glimmer of hope to get out of the opening session of the summer without a hideous collapse via Broad, who took the first three, and they took it with a handy stand of 45 for the third wicket with Stirling reaching 30 in fewer balls than that.

He didn’t make it to the break, top edging Leach, but McCollum has after facing 93 balls for his 29 so far. The opener hasn’t given England’s seamers anything. They’ve done a fair bit right too with Josh Tongue standing out for his pace and aggression at the first time of asking in Test cricket. Looking forward to watching plenty of him.

LUNCH: Ireland 78-4 (26 overs).

26th over: Ireland 78-4 (McCollum 29, Tucker 8) Potts with the last over before lunch and gives McCollum a chance to square drive and he gives it everything – great contact up the hill, to the rope in a flash. With Potts closer to the off stump the opener finishes the job, leaving alone and getting through to lunch. Well done.

25th over: Ireland 72-4 (McCollum 24, Tucker 7) Tongue hit 91mph earlier – that really is a point of difference for England with Archer and Stone both out of action, the former for the whole summer. Mark Wood won’t be bowled into the ground against Australia with five Tests in six weeks, so they’ll need another option and, in the space of a session, it might be that the Licker has got himself into that slot. McCollum is getting under the short balls better as we go, and playing well off his toes as well. He’s earned as sandwich in a few minutes from now. Keep going.

24th over: Ireland 71-4 (McCollum 24, Tucker 6) Double change – Matty Potts back after five overs off the top from the Nursery End with Leach’s job done. Tucker gets to the pitch of him right away before flicking with with style out to to the rope – that’s the way he does it. Potts adjusts his length and nearly gets the wicket, moving prodigously through the air with a ball the ‘keeper had to play out – bowled, lad. McCollum gets the strike back for a couple of balls and leaves Potts be outside off.

I must admit, I’m not entirely sure when lunch is. Are we extending all three sessions by ten minutes to make up for the extra half an hour allowed for a four-day Test, or just bunging that on at the end for a mega final stanza? We’ll find out in five minutes.

23rd over: Ireland 66-4 (McCollum 24, Tucker 1) Quick burst from Broad and Tongue gets another go and hits Tucker first ball. Got in him the head, albeit a glancing blow via the shoulder. All is fine with the physio out and doing the mandatory test. Another short one to follow from Tongue with McCollum on strike – that’s the way. And again later in the over. He’s got the wheels for it, up at 88mph. Indeed, his final ball hits 89.6mph – let’s round that up shall we: he’s a 90mph operator.

22nd over: Ireland 65-4 (McCollum 24, Tucker 1) Lorcan Tucker, serious player. Off the mark with a shovel into the onside. Leach has done his job with Stirling done.

“Adam.” John Starbuck. “I see you almost quoting ‘my boyfriend’s back’ in the 19th over. Was that a reference to the film, or the Angels’ song in 1963? If the latter, it’s rare for the OBO to dwell in that era.”

The latter! It’s a banger!

WICKET! Stirling c Bairstow b Leach 30 (Ireland 64-4)

Forget what I said about Leach/Stirling not quite going to plan, he’s got him sweeping! Extra bounce, into the glove, balloons up, game over. An important partnership but what a disappointing time to go after so much hard work with lunch in sight – the stand is broken on 45 and Leach is in the book for season 2023.

Jack Leach of England celebrates dismissing Paul Stirling of Ireland. Photograph: Gareth Copley/ECB/Getty Images

21st over: Ireland 64-3 (McCollum 24, Stirling 30) Broad to McCollum – this is the match-up England need and he beats him straight away. As Mike Atherton points out on Sky, it’s that much harder with the slope from that end when you aren’t conditioned to it in terms of the balls you can/should/wish to leave. Another play and miss later in the set too; less about the ball this time – poor shot. Maiden.

20th over: Ireland 64-3 (McCollum 24, Stirling 30) Top footwork from Stirling, down the track to leach and smothering any spin that’s out there, hammered past mid-off for his fifth four to take him into the 30s at a strike rate of better than 100. Considering he was given out lbw first ball (overturned on review) this is a fine counterattack. I reckon they’ve overdone the Leach experiment here given the surface showed enough life with the seamers early on; Plan A was working.

19th over: Ireland 60-3 (McCollum 24, Stirling 26) Broady’s back and you’re gonna be in trouble (Hey-la-day-la your Broady’s back). In truth, the change at the Pav End works well for the Irish pair with Stirling accessing the region behind point for the second time in a couple of overs for three before McCollum pulls awkwardly over midwicket for his third boundary. He simply has to make it through to lunch.

Damn straight.

18th over: Ireland 53-3 (McCollum 20, Stirling 23) Leach to Stirling. Nothing at all wrong with what he’s doing but there’s just not a lot going on. A single to midwicket all that’s on offer – Ireland continue their rebuild; this pair have added 34.

Meanwhile, YJB is loving his morning with the gloves back, constant chat.

17th over: Ireland 52-3 (McCollum 20, Stirling 22) The Licker’s first bad ball, giving Stirling a good look at a cut shot and he doesn’t miss. And it is back to back boundaries to start the over, on the balls of his feet timing the man on debut behind point this time around – lovely batting, then taking one to square leg. If these two can get Ireland through to lunch, whisper it… might be (vaguely) shared honours.

16th over: Ireland 43-3 (McCollum 20, Stirling 13) Leach is bowling a straighter line to Stirling, who he wants attacking him. But the veteran (that word again, sorry Romeo) keeps his head and knocks him out to deep square. Two singles off the over. It feels like we’re watching a sleepy session on the third afternoon with Leach in operation landing it on the spot, but it’s still before lunch on day one. BazBall, innit.

“It’s not a new thought, but mornings like this hammer it home,” writes Matt Dony. “How unfortunate for Broad to have spent his international career playing alongside Anderson. Although not exactly ‘in his shadow’, you do wonder just how feted he would have been had Jimmy not been quite so Jimmy. Also, I hope Ireland can steady the ship and avoid the collapse now. It’s a ridiculously difficult task to adjust to this level of cricket, but the more established teams we have, the better the game becomes. Confidence-shattering collapses at this stage don’t help anyone.”

Works the other way too: without Anderson, does Broad enjoy such a magnificent career in tandem the way that he has? But your point stands. I’m not sure if the numbers back this up but I feel like his analysis without Jimmy is very handy.

15th over: Ireland 41-3 (McCollum 19, Stirling 12) Before the review, a run off Tongue from his 13th ball but not far away at all, finding Stirling’s inside edge and spitting away behind square – had the bat missed, they would’ve been appealing. McCollum takes on a shorter delivery, inside the line before pulling away for a couple. Then after the review the shot of the morning so far from the opener, who square drives from the top of the bounce out through cover point for four. A lot to like about the way he’s gone about the way the 27-year-old has gone about it this morning.

I wasn’t going to include any emails about the trouble England had getting to the ground earlier but this is very good from Paul Haynes. “Just Stop Oil? Does this mean they are Boycott supporters? Their catchphrase should be: ‘the global mean temperature seems OK at the moment but add another 2 degrees onto that and it doesn’t seem so clever.’” (This is a joke – if you don’t get it, that’s okay, don’t yell)

England review! Tongue back of a length, jagging back, jumping up and hitting McCollum. Feels like back pad but Stokes goes upstairs to check for an edge. Yep – fantastic delivery and close to the bat but under edge confirms back pocket.

14th over: Ireland 33-3 (McCollum 12, Stirling 11) Leach again after cordial and just a single to cover from Stirling, one-day style. Sky cut to a graphic of Leach’s time under Stokes and McCullum – 41 wickets at 39 in 13 Tests. Not spectacular but it works.

“Dear Adam.” Dearest Robert McLiam Wilson, this time via email. “Be not downcast, my colonial brother. That not-out review is the turning point. We’ll declare before tomorrow on 650 for 9 and Broad will tearfully announce his retirement over the weekend. Then something uncomfortable will happen to Glenn Hoddle (the most English man in history) and 800 years of oppression will finally be avenged. It was 800, wasn’t it? 900? The full thousand...” My only thought to add is that I’d love to watch a day of Irish Test cricket in your company, suspect it’d be an experience.

13th over: Ireland 32-3 (McCollum 12, Stirling 10) A much quicker over from Tongue here, hitting 88mph twice; above 85mph throughout. McCollum is leaving him competently until the final ball before drinks that zips past the outside edge at real pace. England will be thrilled with his first two overs, maidens both. In that opening hour Ireland made 15 runs in the first three overs then lost 3/17 in the next ten.

Romeo is back with us: “If Paul Stirling is “The Irish veteran”, I must be a fossil. He’s 32 years old.” True, but he made his debut in 2008. I count veteran status on that basis rather than age alone. And he’s nearly 33 (32 until then!). Standing by it.