Call it a World Cup hangover or even a reality check, a Joe Root-led England were slapped with ferocious brutality after Ireland’s Tim Murtagh stunned the hosts with a 5-wicket haul in a mere nine overs which led the Three Lions being bowled out for just 85 in less than 24 overs.
Murtagh, who made his Test debut in May last year, turns 38 next month. So thinking of him as a possible threat to a squad - a majority of which is comprised of newly-crowned World Cup winners - isn’t something that would cross a layman’s mind.
Tim Murtagh with best five Michelle figures in a Test match at Lord's pic.twitter.com/oAPVTGtr8e
— Emmet Riordan (@emmetrd) July 24, 2019
As it turns out though, it only took him eight overs to enter the Lord’s Honour Board - something that even the likes of Wasim Akram and Curtly Ambrose haven’t managed. However, if we are to dig deep, Murtagh’s exploits against England on Wednesday shouldn’t be a surprise for the cricket faithful.
Representing Middlesex, Murtagh was facing his opponents in his own den (Middlesex play their home games at Lord’s). And it was only earlier this month that he had grabbed his fourth 5-wicket haul in the County Championship this season with one of them coming at Lord’s in April.
Overall, he now has 383 wickets at Lord's (including first-class figures) - a feat no other bowler has been able to match at a single venue since 2000.
Now that’s something you won’t read every day…
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ian Kington
