When Curtis Campher smacked him through cover for four, Tongue turned on his heel like an angry Fred Trueman tossing his mane. Watching him run in, elbows pumping sideways, his physiognomy seems that of a bowler far more experienced than his 47 first-class appearances. Matthew Potts stood down for Josh Tongue at the pavilion end and England tested out their new big gun. Ireland had finally mustered their reserves and what followed was the first true battle of the Test. It was all a bit Homeric, even if Tector’s part was closer to Achilles than that of his rhyming namesake. Tector gained revenge with a lofted four off the same bowler.
Tucker’s classical strokeplay had brought up the pair’s 50 partnership before he gloved a Jack Leach drifter on to his stumps with equal elegance. After two dark days in the field, it was these pioneers who ignited Ireland’s greatest efforts in this game. They play their first-class cricket for Leinster Lightning rather than an English county, with contracts in global T20 franchise leagues.
Tector and Tucker – their names alone are worth a Netflix commission – are emblematic of their nation’s cricketing development. It still could not smell as sweet as what was to come. A sugary waft of baked goods drifted over their heads from the churros stand. A couple of men in green shirts called “good luck” but the rest of the fans, in their England caps, paid them little attention. An hour before play, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker finished their practice on the outfield and walked past the cordon at the Nursery End.
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