5 things that show that Ireland belong to Test cricket

#2. The performances by Kevin O'Brien, Stuart Thompson and Tim Murtagh

Kevin O'Brien was terrific

Ireland lost their first Test but they had some very fine individual performances with both bat and ball in both innings.

Tim Murtagh was the pick of the Irish bowlers throughout the match. He took 4/45 in the first innings and two of his scalps were crucial wickets- Babar Azam and Shadab Khan who scored 55.

In the second innings, Murtagh picked two early wickets, dismissing Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

Kevin O'Brien was Ireland's star of the game. He scored 40 in the first innings before scoring a brilliant 118 in the second innings. He also took a wicket with the ball in the second innings.

Stuart Thompson was one of Ireland's best players throughout the match. He picked up three wickets with the ball in the first innings and conceded 62 runs from 22 overs. Thompson picked up one wicket in the second innings.

With the bat, Thompson failed to deliver in the first innings but scored a fine 53 in the second innings.

Such impressive individual performances show that Ireland can be a good fit in Test cricket.