CRICKET

England call up Josh Tongue to replace Moeen Ali

The second Ashes test starts at Lord’s on Wednesday

Josh Tongue of England bowls during day two of the LV= Insurance Test Match between England and Ireland at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 02, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

By: Pramod Thomas

ENGLAND have named seamer Josh Tongue as a surprise pick in their team for the second Ashes test against Australia at Lord’s which starts on Wednesday (28), replacing injured spinner Moeen Ali, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said on Tuesday (27).

Off-spinner Ali was nursing a finger injury in the first match at Edgbaston that Australia won by two wickets and managed to bowl just 14 overs in the second innings.

The 25-year-old Tongue, who took five for 66 in the second innings of his Test debut against Ireland at Lord’s this month, is the only change to the side that lost the first Ashes Test, with England captain Ben Stokes opting for an all-seam attack.

Tongue was picked ahead of Mark Wood, who was widely tipped for selection for the second Test, with Joe Root expected to continue to play the role of auxiliary spinner.

Worcestershire paceman Tongue, preferred to the express pace of Mark Wood for the match. Seamer Chris Woakes and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed were also overlooked in preference of Tongue.

England XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson

(Agencies)