Michael Vaughan feels England have found an ideal replacement for Alastair Cook. | Photo Credit: AP

Key Highlights Former England captain Michael Vaughan was impressed by Jack Leach's brilliant knock at Lord's Jack Leach scored 92 runs off 162 balls on the Day 2 of the Lord's Test to help the hosts stage a fightback Vaughan said England's search for Alastair Cook's replacement in Tests might be over

After being reduced to shambles in the opening innings of the ongoing Lord's Test against Ireland, England batsmen produced a much-improved show in the second innings. Jack Leach was the unexpected hero for the hosts, top-scoring with a gritty knock of 92 runs off 162 balls. Tim Murtagh, who ran riot with the red cherry to run through the English line-up on the opening day of the Lord's Test, was dealt cautiously by Leach, who showed impeccable composure during his innings to help England stage a fightback.

Leach, who headed into the Test match on the back of a disappointing Championship season for Somerset, roared back to form with a classy knock. He had scored 42 runs in 12 matches for his County club before producing one of the best knocks of his brief Test career so far on Thursday. Leach's innings left former England captain Michael Vaughan impressed as he went on to compare the left-hander with England's all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket.

One of the most prolific batsmen of the modern era, Cook is the fifth-highest run-getter in Test cricket with a staggering 12472 runs in 161 Test matches at a brilliant average of 45.33 with 33 centuries and 57 fifties under his belt. He is regarded as one of the greatest openers to have ever played for England. Ever since his retirement, England have struggled to replace him at the top but Vaughan feels the wait might be over soon.

Vaughan believes England have found the perfect replacement for Cook in Leach, who was impressive against Ireland. "Finally we have found a replacement for Alastair Cook .... #Leach," Vaughan tweeted after the left-hander's 92-run-knock in England's second innings against Ireland at Lord's.

Finally we have found a replacement for Alastair Cook .... #Leach — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 25, 2019

Leach's return to form is a positive sign for England ahead of the Ashes. However, he is yet to go a long way having played only a handful of Test matches for England. He had scored 55 runs in four Tests before his heroic knock at Lord's. He was close to making it to the honour's board at the Home of Cricket but missed out by a whisker after being dismissed by Murtagh just 8 runs short of a well-deserved hundred.

England were 303/9 at stumps on the third day of the one-off Test match with Stuart Broad (21) and Olly Stone (0) out in the middle. The hosts have amassed a lead of 181 runs and will be looking to cross the 200-run mark on Friday.