Since impressing in his first two Tests in the summer of 2023, England – and Nottinghamshire – have waited patiently for Josh Tongue.
But on his long-awaited debut for the county he joined that year, he provided a stark reminder of the quality that means the Test team will not give up on their forgotten man.
Just as the high-scoring, hard-fought season opener against Durham appeared to be drifting towards a draw, Tongue produced a match-changing spell. Best of all, from England’s point of view, it came with the old ball, making this Tongue’s first step towards a Test recall for the era-defining meetings with India and Australia later this year.
As he has been for much of his career, Tongue has been dogged by injury since impressing against Ireland and Australia two years ago. On debut, he picked up a five-wicket haul, and in the Ashes, he troubled Australia’s best batsmen at Lord’s, dismissing David Warner and Steve Smith twice, and the series’ top scorer Usman Khawaja once. That earned him a two-year central contract, and a move from Worcestershire to Trent Bridge, where he was effectively signed as Stuart Broad’s successor.
A rupture of his right pectoral followed by a hamstring tear meant that he played no competitive cricket whatsoever between August 2023 and January this year, when he was part of Andrew Flintoff’s Lions squad in Australia. On this evidence, he has returned a more rounded cricketer. Not only does he look physically more robust following careful attention from England’s medical team, but he also made his maiden first-class half-century on his return, too.
With the ball, he was rusty and loose in the first innings at Trent Bridge, picking up two pricey wickets. But as the match approached its 12th and final session, he provided the sprinkling of Test quality that was required to blow it open. All the characteristics that led to England selection in 2023 – decent pace and late movement provided by an arm that comes from beyond the perpendicular – were on display.
Tongue picked up Ben McKinney, considered by many an England opener-in-waiting, on the third evening. From round the wicket, Tongue found just enough movement away from the left-hander to take the edge, which was pouched by the wicketkeeper.
McKinney had been batting with Colin Ackermann, who made his second century of the match. With Graham Clark for company, he was close to making the game safe for Durham, putting on 145 to provide a lead of 67 with five wickets in hand.
But in the 80th over of the innings, Tongue nipped one back to flatten Clark’s off stump.
He then pinned George Drissell on the back pad.
At the start of his next over, he proved too quick and full for Ben Raine, who was bowled first ball, before Ackermann was plumb in front playing across the line. Tongue had taken four wickets for three runs in 12 balls, to complete a 10th first-class five-wicket haul.
When the Australian Fergus O’Neill picked up the final wicket of the innings, Nottinghamshire were left with a target of just 89 in the last session, which they managed just two down.
In Tongue’s absence, England have overseen a changing of the guard in their Test attack, with James Anderson and Broad retired, and Ollie Robinson dropped. They have found new seamers such as Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, with whom they would love to unite him – especially as Mark Wood and Olly Stone are injured.
After a statement display to start the season, his next challenge is staying on the park.
“Injuries happen when you are a fast bowler but to be out for so long was tough, obviously, and to get a five-for on your comeback is a great feeling,” Tongue said. “I wasn’t really thinking about my body, just concentrating on getting wickets. I’ve bowled 40 overs in this game and I’ve pulled up quite well. I’d like to play as many games as I can.”
