The word historic tends to get bandied around too often when describing cricket games, but this one truly justified that tag as Ireland travelled to Lord's to take on England in a Test match.

On a never to be forgotten first morning Ireland skittled England for just 85, with Tim Murtagh taking five wickets, making it his favourite match.

Tim Murtagh has played county cricket with Surrey and Middlesex, winning 97 caps between 2012 and 2019. He took 142 wickets at 25.54, which included two five wicket hauls - his 5 for 13 in this Test his best. He scored some vital runs too, hitting a Test best 54* against Afghanistan, while his last gasp heroics at Stormont saw him hit a six and four to beat Scotland in an ODI World Cup Qualifier.

Looking back on my final game in an Ireland shirt I couldn't have wished for a better occasion to bow out from international cricket. The memories of that week will stay with me forever and to play a test match on my "home" ground is something I will always cherish.

My main memories from that week include the most fearsome heat I've ever felt in this country. Our preparation before the game was as thorough as it always was but you could sense this was more than just a normal game.

I remember playing a county match the week before but my mind was elsewhere and praying I didn't pick up an injury before the test match.

The reception we got walking through the long room on day one was incredible. It doesn't get more special from that. We were pretty confident that whatever happened with the toss we knew we would be bowling first.

That helped us bowlers get in the right frame of mind to perform the morning of day 1. Luckily we got off to a start that was beyond our wildest dreams. Mark Adair bowled like a veteran of 50 test caps rather than a guy on debut and made my job easier at the other end.

Everyone chipped in and to walk off at lunch having bowled England out for 85 having inked myself onto the Lords honours board was pretty surreal.

All which meant I was sure to tuck into one of Lords famous desserts at lunchtime.

We got ourselves into a great position that afternoon with the bat but England showed their class to once again turn the game on its head. I actually think our bowling/fielding performance on day 2 was better than day 1.

Conditions were verging on unbearable in 40 degree heat and the pitch had flattened out and become true to bat on. We stuck at our task and got rewarded as the day went on.

Day 3 is best consigned to the memory bin as England exploited perfect bowling conditions to eventually win the game.

The dressing room was filled with disappointment at having missed a great chance to take the ultimate scalp.

However that feeling soon disappeared as friends and family joined us to celebrate the road that had taken us to Lords in the knowledge we had given England an almighty scare.

I will treasure that time chatting and drinking with teammates, management and our loved ones as much as the game itself.