Stuart Broad got the ball rolling for England on the first day of their eagerly-anticipated Test summer with three wickets before Ireland regrouped to reach 78 for four at Lord’s.
Broad ripped through the top order to reduce the tourists to 19 for three before a review overturned the decision to give Paul Stirling out lbw for a duck.
Stirling then led the fightback for Ireland with a rapid 30 during a 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket with opener James McCollum but Jack Leach ended the white-ball specialist’s fun before lunch to ensure England narrowly edged proceedings on the opening morning.
England’s journey to Lord’s from their Kensington hotel had been delayed by five minutes due to Just Stop Oil protesters and enhanced security measures were put in place by the MCC to thwart any potential disruptions during the four-day Test.
With overcast conditions and a green wicket at the Home of Cricket, it was no surprise when Ben Stokes put Ireland into bat after he won the toss.
The previous meeting between the nations here in 2019 had seen England all out for 85 before lunch on day one and this time it was the tourists who found themselves in early trouble.
Broad, with James Anderson and Ollie Robinson rested with the Ashes in mind, relished his chance to lead the bowling attack and made the breakthrough with the 26th ball of the morning.
Peter Moor hit a century and put on an unbeaten 232-run opening-wicket stand during last week’s warm-up match at Essex but was pinned in front lbw for only 10 in Broad’s third over.
Better was to come from the Nottinghamshire seamer in his next over with Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie out for a five-ball duck after second slip Zak Crawley took an excellent low catch diving to his left.
Broad snaffled Harry Tector two balls later when he inexplicably flicked straight to Matthew Potts at leg slip but Broad was denied a hat-trick opportunity when an lbw decision against Stirling was overturned on review after ball-tracker showed it was missing leg stump.
A fine spell of three for 14 from five overs was still a pleasing start to the Ashes summer for Broad.
England debutant Josh Tongue replaced Broad at the Pavilion End and was able to get up to 91mph on the speed gun but Ireland regrouped to pass their 38 score here four years ago and back-to-back boundaries for Stirling off Tongue brought up their fifty in the 17th over.
Opener McCollum had helped with a rearguard effort down the other end, but Stirling’s enterprising knock ended when another attempted sweep flicked off his glove and gave Bairstow a simple catch behind the stumps to help Leach get off the mark this summer.
McCollum, now joined by Ireland wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, survived some short bowling from Tongue and Potts before lunch to walk off unbeaten on 29 from 93 balls.
England 'realistic' about chances in Pakistan, says McCullum
Brendon McCullum says England are going into their three-match Test series against Pakistan with "realistic" expectations, and anticipates a tough test from their hosts.
England became the first side to achieve a 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan during their last tour in 2022.
And Pakistan have had no success on home soil in the last two years, with a 1-0 defeat by Australia in early 2022 setting off a 10-match winless run, with Bangladesh the latest to triumph against them.
England are without captain Ben Stokes though, as he was ruled out of the first Test after failing to recover from a hamstring tear in time.
Despite recent history suggesting England may just have an edge, McCullum is taking nothing for granted.
"We go in with high hopes," McCullum told BBC Sport. "There will be no excuses whatsoever if we don't get where we need to get.
"We're also realistic this is going to be a tough series, because Pakistan in their own conditions, as history would suggest, it's a tough ask."
McCullum also brushed off concerns he was worried about not having James Anderson, who has been acting as their fast-bowling consultant since his retirement, with them for the first day.
"Jimmy has been a great resource for us, but prior to that, we didn't have a pace-bowling coach as such," he added.
"In the world we live in, communication is easy. Jimmy is in constant communication with the guys. I don't think it's a big issue."
For Pakistan, Shan Masood has lost all five Tests since being appointed captain last November, including the 2-0 defeat to Bangladesh in August.
"There is a lot of hurt within the players," Masood said. "This year, 2024, has not been a good year for Pakistan cricket all over, and we like to see our fans happy.
"The answer is to be positive. We let the past go. We have tried to maintain consistency in selection. We haven't had any chopping and changing because we have lost a few games.
"We believe in this set of players and with Jason Gillespie we wanted to create a squad mentality. The players are being backed to turn things around."
The first Test between England and Pakistan begins on Monday in Multan.
Stokes to have scan on hamstring injury before Pakistan tour
Ben Stokes will have a scan on his hamstring injury next week with the England captain in a race to be fit for their first Test in Pakistan.
Stokes sustained the injury at the start of August and was subsequently absent from the series win over Sri Lanka.
The 33-year-old revealed earlier this month he was being cautious with his recovery rather than risking further damage with a premature return.
As well as netting throughout his recovery, Stokes has also featured in this week's Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Despite the issue, he has been named as captain of England's 17-man squad, which is due to depart on October 1 before beginning the three-match series six days later.
England paceman Wood sidelined until 2025 with elbow injury
England bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining an injury to his right elbow.
Wood played a full part in the first Test versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, despite suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies.
Wood managed two wickets in that match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but he was then replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's, which ended in another comprehensive home win.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now confirmed Wood's injury will rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
The ECB said it will closely monitor Wood's rehabilitation ahead of a potential return to action in early 2025, with England embarking on a white-ball tour of India – their first with Brendon McCullum in charge of their limited-over sides – in January.
They then head to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
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