Fast bowler Josh Tongue, who represents Worcestershire in the County circuit, will make his debut for England in the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s from Thursday after being preferred over the resurgent Chris Woakes. The 25-year-old will join Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts in England’s seam attack with James Anderson and Ollie Robinson nursing their groin and ankle strains respectively.
Tongue has 11 wickets to his name in four County Championship matches so far this season, including the prized scalp of Australia’s Steve Smith when Worcestershire played Sussex, with his overall first-class record reading 162 wickets in 47 games at an average of 26.04.
Speaking to Sky Sports News last week, Tongue – who spent 15 months away from cricket between 2021 and 2022 due to a right shoulder injury which required two operations – said he would bring “pace, bounce and a bit of movement” to the table if he made his Test debut.
England XI to face Ireland at Lord’s: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Jack Leach
Pace ✅
Bounce ✅
Aggression ✅It's easy to see why Josh Tongue has attracted the attention of the @englandcricket selectors this year!#LVCountyChamp | @WorcsCCC pic.twitter.com/p9NYH0VjSH
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 24, 2023
