In the one-off Test match being played between England and Ireland, records are being broken for fun. On the first day where England were knocked out for 85 runs, a number 11 batsman of England registered another record on the second day.
On Wednesday, England had sent a number 11 batsman to play off the final over the day. Jack Leach had the responsibility of playing out the final over of the first day- a day which witnessed 20 wickets fall.
However, Leach not only saved his wicket for the day but came back and scored 92 runs to break yet another record.
‘Nightwatchman’ broke records
Leach became the first batsman ever to score a half-century after coming out to open the batting as a night watchman. If he hadn’t fallen short eight runs short of a century, another record would have been broken.
Notably, after the retirement of Alastair Cook, Leach’s score of 92 against Ireland is the second-highest score for an English opener.
Post missing out on a hundred, Leach told the media that there is indeed a thing called nervous nineties.
Increase in batting Average
Before coming in to bat against Ireland, Leach’s highest score of 16 and his batting average was 9.16, however, after scoring 92 runs against Ireland, his batting average has shot up to 30. As a bowler, Jack has played four tests and picked up 20 wickets.
An interesting turn in Ireland-England Test match
Ireland-England Test match at Lord’s has come to an interesting turn. England made 85 runs in the first innings, Ireland responded with 207 in their first. In the second innings, the hosts have managed 303 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. England’s total lead is of 181 runs now and it is expected that Ireland will not get too big a total to chase and Ireland will fancy their chances of winning their first-ever Test.