20 wickets fall in one day! Yes, this happened in Lord’s Test between England and Ireland

The England vs Ireland one-off Test has already become historic for many reasons. It is not only Ireland’s first Test at the venue but the action on day 1 saw 20 wickets fall in one day. Tim Murtagh’s sensational five-wicket haul skittled out England for 85, which was their 25th lowest total in Test history. In response, Ireland managed to score 207 with Andrew Balbirnie scoring a fifty and establishing a lead of 122. However, Lord’s was a field day for the bowlers as the Test match saw 20 wickets fall on the opening day. Incidentally, this was the 20th time that 20 wickets had fallen in one day of a Test match.

This was the 35th time that 20 or more wicket s have fallen on a single day of a Test match and this has happened in the ninth time at a venue in England. Lord’s has seen three instances, including this match, of 20 wickets or more falling in a single day. In the 2000 Test against West Indies, 21 wickets fell in a single day and it was the first time that all four innings were played on a single day.

However, the world record for most wickets in a single day is 27 and it took place in the 1888 Test match between England and Australia at the same venue. Lord’s was the sight were the carnage took place and 131 years on, the record has still not been broken. In a rain-affected match, Australia was bowled out for 116 and at the end of day 1, England was left reeling at 18/3.

On the second day, England was bowled out for 53 but in response, Australia was bowled out for 60 in 29.2 overs. However, the destruction did not end there. Chasing 124 for a win, Australia bowled England out for 62 and they emerged victorious by 61 runs.

Ireland would be hoping to create history and upset England at the home of cricket. In their maiden Test match against Pakistan, they were almost on the cusp of victory but Pakistan held firm. In their second Test against Afghanistan at Dehradun, they missed out on yet another opportunity as Rahmat Shah’s twin fifties gave Afghanistan a famous win.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Ireland is playing a Test for the first time in Lord's.
• England will play Australia in the Ashes contest in August.
• Tim Murtagh took his maiden five-wicket haul.