Watch: Josh Tongue, who replaced Moeen Ali in the England XI for the Lord’s Test, provided them with the first breakthrough on the stroke of Lunch on Day one as he got one to tail back in sharply, clipping Usman Khawaja’s off stump as the left-hander let the ball go.
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The first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s got off to an eventful start, first with the Just Stop Oil protestors running onto the field and halting play, followed by a brief spell of rain that saw the players leave the ground for about 15 minutes.
England had won the toss and and chose to field first on a surface that clearly looked like it had more in it for the bowlers than the one at Edgbaston. The overcast conditions must have also played a part in the decision.
However, Khawaja and David Warner, the Australian opening pair, got off to a steady start, frustrating the English seamers as they not only kept them out but also attacked selectively to keep the runs ticking.
Tongue, who was announced in the Playing XI a day before the Test began, was brought on in the 18th over with none of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Ollie Robinson finding any success.
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Tongue started off in a wayward fashion, conceding ten runs off his first over. The Australians liked the extra pace that Tongue offered. Warner in particular looked to attack the Worcestershire seamer, hitting him for three fours and a six.
Having conceded 24 off his first three overs, there might have been a temptation to give the ball to someone else but Stokes decided to continue with Tongue for what would have been the last over before Lunch and the decision paid off.
From around the wicket, Tongue delivered a back-of-length ball that started outside off and swung back in sharply. Khawaja left the ball based on its original line but had to make the long walk to the pavilion as the ball crashed into his off stump, handing a first Ashes wicket to Tongue.
With that wicket, Australia went into Lunch at 73-1.
Watch Josh Tongue rattle Khawaja’s stumps with a big inswinger as the opener lets the ball go:
Josh Tongue takes his first Ashes wicket and what a BEAUTY! 😍
Khawaja goes for 17 💥 pic.twitter.com/qWxZ08YBLQ
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 28, 2023
First Ashes wicket secured 🔒
Masterful from Josh Tongue ✨ #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/pS963Awgop
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2023
