Tim Murtagh

Irish cricketer

Tim Murtagh

Personal information
Full name|

Timothy James Murtagh

Born|  (1981-08-02) 2 August 1981 (age 42)
Lambeth, London, England
Height| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting| Left-handed
Bowling| Right-arm fast-medium
Role| Club captain
Bowler
Relations| AJ Murtagh (uncle)
CP Murtagh (brother)
International information
National side|

* Ireland (2012–2019)

Test debut (cap 5)| 11 May 2018 v Pakistan
Last Test| 24 July 2019 v England
ODI debut (cap 38)| 23 June 2012 v Australia
Last ODI| 7 July 2019 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.| 34
T20I debut (cap 25)| 21 July 2012 v Bangladesh
Last T20I| 13 March 2016 v Netherlands
T20I shirt no.| 34
Domestic team information
Years| Team
2000–2006| Surrey
2007–2023| Middlesex
Career statistics
| Competition | Test | ODI | T20I | FC

|
|
|
|

Matches | 3 | 58 | 14 | 262
Runs scored | 109 | 188 | 26 | 4,352
Batting average | 27.25 | 7.83 | 13.00 | 17.33
100s/50s | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/11
Top score | 54* | 23* | 12* | 74*
Balls bowled | 570 | 3,020 | 324 | 46,631
Wickets | 13 | 74 | 13 | 950
Bowling average | 16.38 | 30.94 | 24.92 | 24.49
5 wickets in innings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39
10 wickets in match | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5
Best bowling | 5/13 | 5/21 | 3/23 | 7/82
Catches/stumpings | 0/– | 16/– | 3/– | 69/–

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 20 May 2023

Timothy James Murtagh (born 2 August 1981) is a retired English-born Irish cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club.

He was a left-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler who previously represented England in the 2000 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Murtagh played for the Surrey county team from 2000 to 2006, then moved to Middlesex, whom he represented from 2007 to 2023.

He first played for Ireland in 2012. In May 2018, he was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first Test match, against Pakistan.

In November 2018, he was named the Men's International Player of the Year at the annual Cricket Ireland Awards.[1] The following month, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.[2][3] In November 2019, Murtagh announced his retirement from international cricket, remaining with Middlesex CCC for two years instead.[4]

## Under-19s career[edit]

He was part of the England Under-19 cricket team side for 2000 Under-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka.[5] Murtagh took 16 wickets at an average of 16.31 with the best bowling of 4/29 in three Youth Tests and 12 wickets at an average of 19.33 with the best bowling of 4/26 in 7 List A Internationals for the England Under-19 XI.[6]

## Domestic career[edit]

He played for Surrey as a backup bowler. After injuries to many of the Surrey bowlers in 2005, he has found himself having to lead the attack on several occasions. Murtagh took figures of 6/24 against Middlesex in the 2005 Twenty20 Cup which at the time that was his best bowling figures in the short form games.[citation needed]

Murtagh played in just two of Surrey's County Championship matches in the 2006 season and as a result, he searched for opportunities with other clubs.[7] Across seven seasons at Surrey, Murtagh played 34 first-class matches scoring 874 runs at an average of 32.37 and taking 68 wickets at an average of 37.72.[8][9] He also played 65 List-A matches in which he took 79 wickets at an average of 32.63.[10][11]

He signed a two-year contract with Middlesex in December 2006 and since moving to Middlesex, Murtagh's bowling average has significantly dropped. As of September 2020, he has taken 725 first-class wickets at an average of 23.74 in 186 games for Middlesex, almost 14 runs per wicket better than his figures at Surrey.[9] Similarly his bowling average in List A matches for Middlesex is six runs less than it was for Surrey.[11]

Consistent in all forms of cricket and with a liking for the big occasion,[further explanation needed] he took 104 wickets in all three formats in 2008. Surprisingly, he was overlooked for the England development squad, but had his chance to shine in Middlesex's trip to Antigua for the Stanford 20/20 for 20. Together with Steven Finn he led Middlesex's attack in 2011 helping them win promotion with 80 wickets at 20.98.[citation needed]

In 2019, he stopped playing international cricket,[12] when he was "forced to make a decision between turning out for Middlesex or Ireland, as Ireland cricketers were no longer allowed play in county cricket as non-overseas players due to their recently gained status as a Full Member of the ICC." When a grace-period for Irish players expired in 2019, he retired from international cricket to continue playing for Middlesex.[13] In November 2019, he announced a two-year contract extension with Middlesex,[14] signing on to play all formats for 2020.[15] He was not playing on the county circuit in 2020, as cricket had been suspended due to COVID-19.[16]

In April 2022, in the opening round of matches in the 2022 County Championship, Murtagh took his 900th wicket in first-class cricket.[17]

On 18 September 2023, Murtagh announced that he would retire from professional cricket at the end of the 2023 county season and it was confirmed that he would move into a coaching role at Middlesex.[18]

## International career[edit]

A conversation with Sussex and Ireland batsman Ed Joyce in 2011 led Murtagh to seriously consider qualifying for Ireland as his grandfather was born in Dublin. He applied for Irish citizenship in October that year, which was granted in January 2012.[19]

Ireland's first engagement after Murtagh qualified was the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier held in the UAE in March. Murtagh was named as a reserve in case any of the 14 players in the squad were injured.[19] He made his debut against Australia in an abandoned One Day International (ODI) match at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast, in June 2012. He was also part of the Irish squad to play against Afghanistan where he played his second ODI in Dublin in July 2012.[20] He made his t20I debut against Bangladesh. He scored 3 runs but did not pick up a wicket in three overs.[21]

Murtagh was selected in the Cricket Ireland squad for the 2015 Cricket World Cup but broke a foot on 7 January, and had to withdraw on medical advice. He was replaced in the squad by Max Sorensen.[22]

In May 2015, Tim Murtagh and fellow cricketer Ed Joyce announced their retirement from T20 cricket.[23] In July 2019, in the second ODI against Zimbabwe, Murtagh took his first five-wicket haul in ODIs.[24]

### Test cricket[edit]

He was named in a fourteen-man squad for Ireland's first ever Test match, which was played against Pakistan in May 2018,[25][26] with Murtagh going on to make his Test debut in the match.[27][28] Ireland won the toss and elected to field, with Murtagh bowling the first delivery for Ireland in Test cricket.[29]

In January 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for their one-off Test against Afghanistan in India.[30][31] During the match, he became the first number 11 batsman to record scores of more than 25 in each innings of a Test match,[32] with scores of 54 not out and 27.[33]

Murtagh played in Ireland's one-off Test match against England at Lord's in July 2019.[34] On the opening morning of the match, he took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket,[35] the first such haul by a bowler for Ireland.[36]

About leaving international cricket, he said, he still hoped to "help out and be involved in some capacity in the future" with the Irish team.[37]

## Personal life[edit]

Murtagh attended the John Fisher School in Purley, London.[38][39]

His uncle Andy and younger brother Chris also played first-class cricket representing Hampshire and Surrey respectively.[citation needed]

He applied for Irish citizenship in October 2011, which was granted in January 2012.[40]

## Awards[edit]

* NBC Denis Compton Award 2001

## See also[edit]

* List of Middlesex County Cricket Club List A cricketers#M

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Murtagh, Delany take out top player awards at 2018 Turkish Airlines Cricket Ireland Awards". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
2. ^ "19 men's central player contracts finalised ahead of busy 2019". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
3. ^ "Ireland women to receive first professional contracts". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
4. ^ "Tim Murtagh announces Ireland retirement, signs new Middlesex deal". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
5. ^ "Under-19 World Cup Matches played by Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
6. ^ "Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
7. ^ "Murtagh swaps Surrey for Lord's". BBC Sport. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
8. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
9. ^ a b "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
10. ^ "List A Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
11. ^ a b "List A Bowling For Each Team by Tim Murtagh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
12. ^ Bull, Andy (24 July 2019), Tim Murtagh the master of his craft casts a spell over England, The Irish Times, retrieved 8 December 2020
13. ^ Wisden Staff (30 July 2020), Tim Murtagh: Why isn't he playing for Ireland anymore?, WISDEN, retrieved 8 December 2020
14. ^ Hashim, Taha (13 July 2020), The inside story of Tim Murtagh's finest hour, Wisden India, retrieved 8 December 2020
15. ^ Tim Murtagh: Ireland bowler retires from international cricket, BBC, 29 November 2019, retrieved 8 December 2020
16. ^ Matthey, James (18 July 2020), Cricketer Tim Murtagh caught in case of mistaken identity with Donald Trump, News.com.au, retrieved 8 December 2020
17. ^ "County Championship: Tim Murtagh takes 900th wicket as Middlesex stay in control at Lord's". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
18. ^ "Tim Murtagh announces retirement at end of county season". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
19. ^ a b "Tim Murtagh". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
20. ^ "Statsguru - All round records: One Day Internationals: Tim Murtagh". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
21. ^ "Statguru - All round records: T20 Internationals: Tim Murtagh". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
22. ^ "Sorensen to replace Murtagh in World Cup Squad". Cricket Ireland. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
23. ^ "Ed Joyce and Tim Murtagh retire from T20s". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
24. ^ "Tim Murtagh's maiden five-for wraps up series win for Ireland". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
25. ^ "Ireland announce 14-man squad for historic first Test against Pakistan". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
26. ^ "Ireland omit George Dockrell for historic first men's Test against Pakistan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
27. ^ "Only Test, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Dublin, May 11-15 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
28. ^ "Ireland win toss, opt to bowl in historic Test against Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
29. ^ "Ireland bowl first ball in Test cricket". SBS News. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
30. ^ "Ireland announce squads for Afghanistan series". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
31. ^ "Stirling to captain Ireland T20 squad, new faces named for upcoming Oman and Afghanistan series". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
32. ^ Rao, Santosh (19 March 2019). "Afghanistan vs Ireland: Tim Murtagh Achieves Never-Seen-Before Feat In 142-Year Test History". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
33. ^ "Ireland's Tim Murtagh creates new record during historic Test vs Afghanistan". India Today. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
34. ^ "England v Ireland: Mark Adair, Lorcan Tucker, Simi Singh and Craig Young in 14-man squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
35. ^ "Tim Murtagh running riot at Lord's as Ireland make sensational start against England in historic test match". Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
36. ^ "Tim Murtagh sets Ireland Test record as England collapse at Lord's". Metro. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
37. ^ Ireland bowler Tim Murtagh announces international retirement, The Irish Times, 29 November 2019, retrieved 8 December 2020
38. ^ "Sporting History & Alumni". The John Fisher School. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
39. ^ The John Fisher School prospectus information 2010 (PDF), The John Fisher School, p. 3, retrieved 15 February 2012[permanent dead link]
40. ^ Tim Murtagh- things you need to about the Ireland bowler who tormented England at Lord's, India: The Hindustan Times, 24 July 2019, retrieved 8 December 2020

## External links[edit]

* Tim Murtagh at ESPNcricinfo
* ECB

Ireland squads

* v
* t
* e

Ireland squad – 2015 Cricket World Cup

* 1 Stirling
* 6 Porterfield
* 10 Mooney
* 14 Wilson
* 17 Thompson
* 22 K. O'Brien
* 24 Joyce
* 26 Sorensen
* 28 Chase
* 35 McBrine
* 44 Young
* 50 Dockrell
* 63 Balbirnie
* 72 N. O'Brien
* 83 Cusack
* Coach: Simmons

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