England seamer Josh Tongue is having a terrific start to his Ashes career as the fast bowler castled both the Australian openers, David Warner and Usman Khawaja, with two jaffas while the other English seamers failed to topple the opening pair in the morning of the second Ashes 2023 Test at Lord’s.
While Josh Tongue hit the top of the off-stump of Khawaja, he hit the top of the leg-stump of David Warner. Josh Tounge had his success against the left-handed Australian duo from around the wicket angle from where the summation of the inswing and in-seam on the deliveries outdid the duo, both the batters left looking a mixture of puzzled and stunned.
Having dismissed Khawaja at the stroke of Lunch, Josh Tongue continued his hostile fast and swinging bowling after lunch to rattle the leg-stump of David Warner, who would eventually be seen smiling at his fate of receiving perhaps the best delivery of the morning.
Tongue, who had taken a five-wicket haul on his debut earlier in the summer against Ireland, was brought in the side for the Lord’s Test replacing Moeen Ali as England went with an all-pace attack. With Mark Wood not yet fit for a Test match, Ben Stokes had said that Tongue will provide the point of difference in their pace attack with his extra pace than the likes of Broad, Anderson, and Robinson.
After three expensive overs, the 25-year-old got his radar right to first get Usman Khawaja and then Warner. The Warner delivery was really something. It swung in significantly and was slightly on the fuller length than the good length.
Warner went for a defensive stroke, but the ball nipped in off the pitch and kept going with the angle, beating Warner’s inside edge and striking the leg stump. Warner’s smile said it all that even though he was batting brilliantly today, scoring 66 runs off 88 balls, it was a jaffa he got from Tongue.
Video: Josh Tongue bowls an unplayable ball to dismiss David Warner:
Warner GONE! 🤩
S̶t̶u̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶B̶r̶o̶a̶d̶ Josh Tongue gets his man! #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/3sw6FSU2To
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2023
