Murtagh, who turns 38 next week, was born in London but began playing for Ireland in 2012. “It’s special as it gets for any cricketer,” said the medium-pacer. “Walking off having taken five wickets is as good a feeling as I’ve had in my career.

“Growing up as a kid I dreamed of being on that honours board, probably not in that [away] dressing room, but as it’s worked out being in the away dressing room makes it that bit more special now.”

Tim Murtagh has now taken 102 more first-class wickets @HomeOfCricket than anyone else this century. https://t.co/8HudBxgZ0l

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 24, 2019

Murtagh, part of Middlesex for 12 years, moved to Ireland in search of greener pastures on the advice of team-mate Ed Joyce. Ireland achieving Test status handed him a long-awaited debut in whites, and he became a part of their first-ever red-ball international in 2018, against Pakistan, six years after his first ODI.

On Wednesday, July 24, Murtagh ran through the hosts’ batting line-up, finishing with 5-13 in nine overs, well-supported by his new-ball partner Mark Adair, who took 3-32.

“We were looking to bowl first, and I had a feeling they [England] would want to bat first, so I had my head around I’d be bowling the first ball this morning anyway,” said Murtagh.

“Our goal was to try and knock over three or four by lunch but everything went our way, reviews went our way, we took all our catches and the other bowlers did a really good job as well.”