Tongue set for Lord’s debut as England go away Woakes out

Anderson and Robinson had been dominated out of this week’s match by head coach Brendon McCullum on Monday, and Mark Wood returned residence on Tuesday night to spend time along with his household following the delivery of his second youngster final week.

While Woakes was initially anticipated to the facet for the primary time in 14 months – particularly after being put up for media duties at Lord’s on Tuesday – Tongue has stolen a march on him.

Speaking on Tuesday after the announcement of the workforce, Tongue, who will probably be Test cap quantity 711, stated: “It’s an amazing feeling. [I’m] speechless, really. Even from when I got the first call-up to be in the squad… now being in the actual team, it’s just a dream come true really.

“Baz got here as much as me simply earlier than coaching completed as we speak. I had simply completed a health club session, really, and he got here as much as me and gave me the great news.”

Tongue’s inclusion was the only surprise in England’s XI, with Ben Stokes carded to bat at No. 6 and Jonny Bairstow returning to the side at No. 7 and keeping wicket after missing their winter commitments through injury.

His red-ball experience overall has been limited, and he has 11 wickets in Division Two this season. One of those was Steve Smith, trapping him LBW for 30 and thus becoming the first English bowler to dismiss him this summer.

“He seems like he bowls fairly quick and has some actual abilities. He is clearly a little bit of a tough diamond.”

Brendon McCullum on Tongue’s attributes

While his season average with the red ball is 41.45, Tongue has made an impression with his sharp pace and bounce which give him a point of difference among those available for the Ireland Test. His overall numbers are impressive, with 162 wickets at an average of 26.04 from 47 matches.

“I bowled at among the lads on Monday,” Tongue said. “I felt like I bowled properly and clearly I used to be entering into with no expectations to be enjoying in any respect and simply bowling at high-class gamers on the nets was simply good for me. I should have bowled pretty nicely to get chosen.”

Evidently, he made a strong impression, both on McCullum and Stokes. At a time when the pace options of Jofra Archer, Olly Stone, Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse are unavailable for the foreseeable future through injuries, Tongue has an opportunity to underline his worth as a point of difference for England’s attack going into the Ashes.

“He’s a giant robust lad, that is for positive,” McCullum said on Monday. “He seems like he bowls fairly quick and has some actual abilities. He is clearly a little bit of a tough diamond. He’s had some accidents all through his profession and it’s good for a man like him to have the ability to have an prolonged time period the place he has been injury-free this summer season to push his case.

“We think he has got something really exciting and hence we brought him into the squad. Whether he plays in this Test or throughout the summer, I am not sure, but again he is another one who looks like he has an immense amount of talent.”

The news caps off a dramatic shift in fortunes for Tongue. He contemplated retirement final summer season after lacking 15 months between 2021 and 2022 with a nerve drawback in his proper shoulder. The subject, known as thoracic outlet syndrome, required two surgical procedures and botox injections to rectify.

“I’m just proud of myself and how I held in there,” he stated. “I was very close to retiring just due to my shoulder. Having two operations, seeing a lot of specialists and I was in a really dark place.

“I do not suppose there’s that many bowlers who’ve been in the identical scenario as me. Obviously practically retiring, then getting known as as much as the Lions in Sri Lanka within the winter and now clearly getting known as into the Test squad. I’m simply happy with myself, actually.

“Since I was a young kid, I always dreamed about playing for England. Knowing I stuck in there shows that mentally I was in a good place and it’s come good.”

His look on Thursday will probably be some extent of satisfaction for Worcestershire. Having been on the county because the age of six, he will probably be their first Test debutant since Moeen Ali in 2014.

“It’s going to be a massive thing for Worcester,” stated Tongue. “Playing from the age of six years old, going through the age groups to getting my first professional contract, there are a lot of people at Worcester who have influenced my career. I’m just thankful to all those who have helped me on my journey.”

This may even be Tongue’s first match at Lord’s, although he has been within the stands as a fan for Test matches prior to now along with his household. Both his dad and mom, his brother, his accomplice and his youngster will probably be in attendance for his debut. He anticipates his dad will probably be significantly emotional, having coached him early in his profession.

Amusingly, Tongue got here into the squad and located a few of his package had been misspelt, which maybe provides a sign of the hasty nature of his preliminary inclusion. “My helmet box was spelt a bit different – instead of ‘Tongue”, it was ‘Tounge’.”

One imagines they will have corrected their mistake for the shirt come Thursday. “Fingers crossed,” Tongue laughed.

England XI vs Ireland: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Jack Leach.