Watch: Josh Tongue claimed his maiden wicket with the first delivery he bowled in Ireland’s second innings at Lord’s today (June 2), nipping the ball back in to strike PJ Moor on the pad.
Tongue was named as a surprise debutant two days out from the start of England’s first Test of the summer, edging out Chris Woakes for selection with James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood all unavailable.
He had to bide his time for his first scalp as Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts and Jack Leach shared the wickets on the first day, but impressed nevertheless, bowling with good pace, extracting lift from the surface, and showing his readiness to be used as a bouncer-bowling battering ram if required.
He found instant reward in the second innings, introduced first change after a three-over opening spell from Broad. His first delivery nipped back into Moor, with the former Zimbabwe international unable to get bat to ball. He opted to review, but ball-tracking projected the ball would have crashed into the stumps.
Later in the over, Tongue struck again, with Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie nicking a wider delivery through to Jonny Bairstow.
Watch Josh Tongue’s maiden Test wicket below:
a MASSIVE moment for Josh Tongue on debut! 😍
His first Test wicket for England ☝️#EnglandCricket | #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/QPEIVxp4MN
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 2, 2023
