England were bowled out inside a session by Ireland in their one-off Test at Lord’s. The innings lasted just 23.4 overs and here we look at how it compares to the Three Lions’ shortest completed Test innings.
94 balls: 61 all out v Australia, 1902
Only South Africa, against England in 1924, have been bowled out quicker in a Test match. Monty Noble took 7-17 and Hugh Trumble three for 38 as England failed to surpass their hosts’ 112, Gilbert Jessop top-scoring with 27. Australia won by 229 runs after making 353 in their second innings.
115 balls: 46 all out v West Indies, 1994
Pace duo Curtly Ambrose (6-24) and Courtney Walsh (3-16) did the damage in Port of Spain as England collapsed in pursuit of a seemingly manageable target of 194. Michael Atherton, England’s captain who was dismissed by Ambrose from the first ball of the innings, was on commentary duty for the latest calamity against Ireland.
124 balls: 58 all out v New Zealand, 2018
You do not have to look back too far for the last example of England being bowled out in the first session of a match. Number nine Craig Overton, in his third and so far last Test, scored more than half of England’s runs with an unbeaten 33 as Trent Boult took 6-32 and Tim Southee 4-25.
137 balls: 101 all out v Australia, 1904
Another fourth-innings collapse as England came up well short of a target of 320, Trumble this time taking the central role in the destruction with seven for 28. Tip Foster top-scored with 30 as England only lost nine wickets on this occasion, with opener Tom Hayward absent hurt.
📸 Scenes at Lord's#BackingGreen | #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/M2uUQTaLsh
— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) July 24, 2019
142 balls: 85 all out v Ireland, 2019
“I didn’t think I’d be on the away honours board,” quipped Ireland’s London-born Middlesex stalwart Tim Murtagh after exploiting his knowledge of Lord’s to pick up 5-13. Debutant Mark Adair and former England import Boyd Rankin took the other wickets as only Joe Denly, Sam Curran and England debutant Olly Stone reached double figures.
143 balls: 45 all out v Australia, 1887
Adair’s final wicket got Ireland into the top five, one ball ahead of a loss to Australia 132 years previously which saw England bowled out in 35.3 four-ball overs. Charlie Turner took 6-15 and JJ Ferris 4-27 as George Lohman, with 17 from number nine, posted England’s only double-figure score.
