On this day in 2018: Ireland play their 1st-ever Test
The Irish cricket team has really enthralled the passionate fans with their excellent brand of cricket since the last one-and-a-half decade. They knocked a strong Pakistan team out of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and pulled off a huge upset over England in the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent.
The players of that era were part-time cricketers who used to do 9 to 5 or other odd jobs like insurance agents, postmen, clerks, door-to-door salesmen, etc. while not playing the game. Meanwhile, it was on this very day in 2018 that Ireland made their maiden red-ball appearance after officially being granted Test status.
Ireland’s impact in Test cricket over the years
Ireland along with Afghanistan were granted Test status on June 22 2017. While it was good news for the European side, it is to be noted that they have not been able to make full use of this dream opportunity.
The Irish team played their first-ever Test match against Pakistan which happened to be a one-off encounter at the Malahide in May 2018. While the hosts did call it right at the toss, it was the Men In Green that had the last laugh.
Pakistan declared their innings at 310/9 and then bundled out Ireland for a paltry 130 after which a follow-on was enforced and they made 339 courtesy of Kevin O’ Brien’s 118. However, that was never enough as Pakistan eventually overhauled the 160-run target to emerge victorious by five wickets.
A year later Ireland faced England in a four-day Test match at the ‘Mecca of Cricket’ Lord’s in July 2019. This happened just days after the Three Lions were crowned the ODI world champions for the very first time at the iconic venue.
Unlike the previous Test match which was one-way traffic, this was Ireland’s best chance to register their maiden win in the format after England were skittled for just 85. Unfortunately, they let this golden chance slip away in the second innings despite enjoying a sizeable 122-run lead.
The Irish bowlers were shoddy in the second innings which allowed the hosts to score 303 riding on Jack Leach’s 92 thereby, setting a decent target of 182 runs for the visitors.
In reply, what should have been a regulation chase ended in a disaster as Ireland were bundled out for only 38 with no one offering any resistance and just James McCollum getting into double digits. Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad destroyed the Irish batting with 6/17 and 4/19 each.
