England have requested Josh Tongue to be their enforcer with the ball at Lord’s after calling him in for Moeen Ali and going with no frontline spinner for the second Ashes Test.
England made the shock name on Tuesday to call Tongue of their XI, leaving the world’s top-ranked batsman Joe Root because the workforce’s sole spinner come Wednesday.
Tongue was earlier this month likened to Scott Boland by Australian star Marnus Labuschagne, however England need him for his tempo fairly than his management in London.
With out-and-out fast Mark Wood nonetheless on ice till the third Test at Headingley and Jofra Archer out for the sequence, Tongue is the quickest bowler left in England’s squad.
The 25-year-old made his Test debut for England earlier this month towards Ireland, taking 5-66 within the second innings at Lord’s.
“Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart) Broad will tell you it is useful having something who can bowl 90m/h,” captain Ben Stokes mentioned.
“I was particularly impressed in game moments where he played different roles with the ball.
“His first spell was making an attempt to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. Then we used him with other ways to try to assault the Ireland batters with our short-ball plan.”
Stokes said Tongue’s selection as a fourth seamer was not indicative of his own knee struggles, adamant he would be able to bowl himself in the Test.
The England captain also stressed there were no ongoing concerns with Ali’s finger, after a bad blister limited the spinner to just seven overs on the final day at Edgbaston.
“We turned up right here and have seen numerous grass on the wicket, it’s a bit inexperienced,” Stokes mentioned.
“Traditionally Lord’s presents extra for seamers.
“Moeen’s finger has actually recovered really well, (but) I thought we would get more with four seamers and went with Tongue.”
Tongue has already captured Steve Smith’s wicket as soon as this season, creating headlines final month when he trapped the right-hander lbw in his first county sport forward of the Ashes.
Labuschagne additionally confronted Tongue early within the county season, earlier than making the comparability to Boland.
“I saw some footage yesterday of him bowling and I thought there was a lot of Scott Boland about his action,” Labuschagne mentioned earlier this month.
“The way he runs in. The angle he creates at the crease.
“He’s a pleasant bowler. I performed towards him earlier this yr in Cardiff and he was excellent.”
Tongue’s call up is the only change to England’s side after the two-wicket loss at Edgbaston, with Ben Duckett holding onto his spot at the top of the order and Jonny Bairstow retaining the gloves.
England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
