Josh Tongue: ‘I wanted a change at this stage of my profession’
Josh Tongue says he’s leaving Worcestershire on the finish of the season as a result of he wants “a new challenge” however doesn’t consider there’s a smoking gun that explains the exodus of quite a lot of homegrown gamers from the membership.
Tongue, who made his England debut this summer time, will be a part of Nottinghamshire on the finish of his contract, with Dillon Pennington making the same move. Pat Brown, who has struggled with harm after enjoying 4 T20Is in 2019, is leaving for Derbyshire, whereas Moeen Ali and Ed Barnard joined Warwickshire final winter.
Quite a lot of different Worcestershire gamers are additionally out of contract on the finish of the season, with Ashley Giles taking cost of negotiations after beginning his job as chief govt earlier this month. Giles made Rob Jones, the Lancashire batter, his first signing earlier this week, however Jack Haynes and Ben Cox are each anticipated to go away the membership.
Tongue held talks with quite a lot of counties earlier than selecting Nottinghamshire, who beat off sturdy curiosity from Lancashire to safe his signature on an preliminary three-year deal. He stated that the chance to work with Notts bowling coach Kevin Shine once more was a significant component in his choice, having beforehand been coached by him as a part of the ECB’s tempo programme.
“I’ve been at the club since I was six years old and I’ve grown up playing for Worcester through the age groups and the academy and obviously signed my first pro deal there,” Tongue stated, talking at a #Funds4Runs session organised by LV= Insurance at Stockport Georgians Cricket Club. “I’ve got a massive heart for the club but I just feel like I’m at a time in my career when I need a new challenge and a new place to play.
“I had just a few conferences with a unique variety of golf equipment and Notts simply actually excited me with the best way they play their cricket and clearly the squad may be very sturdy. Peter Moores, the coach, and Kevin Shine, the bowling coach, actually attracted me.
“I’ve had stuff to do with Shiney in the past, growing up. I feel that’s going to benefit me, to have a different set of eyes on me to see how I can get better. If that’s more pace, or getting me in a better position at contact, we’ll see.”
Asked if there was a single purpose behind gamers leaving, Tongue stated: “I don’t think so. I’m not sure about the other lads leaving, but at my stage of my career now, I just felt like I needed a change and to work with some different coaches and different players. Obviously that is hopefully going to benefit me in the future.”
Moeen, whose brother Kadir is Worcestershire’s assistant coach, instructed that cash was a motivating issue for some departures. “I think it could be financial – it probably is financial with a couple of players,” he stated. “But I think some players probably feel like they want to play at a bigger venue or a bigger club. It doesn’t always work out, but good luck to them.
“I really like Worcester, I nonetheless love Worcester. Obviously my brother’s there and the coach, Richo [Alan Richardson], so I nonetheless observe their progress and stuff. It’s a disgrace, nevertheless it’s all the time been a membership or a county that is produced good gamers and I’m certain they all the time will.”
Tongue and Pennington shared 12 wickets between them in Worcestershire’s win against Leicestershire at Oakham this week, leaving them third in Division Two of the County Championship and only two points off a promotion spot. Richardson admitted some mixed emotions, but said they would continue to be selected for the rest of the summer.
“Obviously I’m upset that they’re leaving,” Richardson said, “however on the similar time they’re nonetheless our gamers they usually nonetheless wish to carry out for us for the remainder of the season, to assist us obtain our objectives. Having them within the staff makes us higher. We aren’t going to vary our opinion on that simply because they’re leaving on the finish of the season.”
Josh Tongue was talking on behalf of LV= Insurance, title sponsors of this summer time’s LV= Insurance Ashes Series. Head to https://www.lv.com/gi/cricket to search out out extra.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98