Josh Tongue aims to get back his spot in the national team as Nottingham turns the clock back at Trent Bridge.
Josh Tongue hints at future glories as seamer looks ready to take his place in England Test plans.
There may be more sports triumphs ahead as Nottingham prepares for a mass migration to Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The City Ground was only a sweeping cross-field pass away from Nottinghamshire, who were trying to reclaim their own past glory.
The last time a County Championship championship was returned to Trent Bridge was during the summer of 2010. However, it was difficult not to recite lines from the same sheet their footballing neighbours were singing from as the incumbents defeated fellow surprise Division One winners Sussex for 169. There is meaningful silverware to be won, regardless of the previous season’s flirtation with relegation.
Although Nottinghamshire has already dominated the first few minutes of this game, they still have more of the race to go. Thanks to captain Haseeb Hameed’s measured 67 not out and Jack Haynes’ helpful support, the first-innings response already stands at 164 for 3. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, they worked with brutal efficiency in the opening 59 overs of the day to establish a dominating position.
In the end, make advantage of your England players while they are still available. Josh Tongue’s 5 for 44 provided his county the kind of elite boost every championship challenge needs in what will be his final game for Nottinghamshire, who don’t play next week, before Zimbabwe kicks things off at this place in four weeks.
The breakthrough’s nature highlighted Tongue’s special traits and the reasons England has been so cautious with him. With the Dukes ball into its more than thirty overs and a fifth-wicket duo set in their ways, Tongue discovered something out of the pitch that no one else could at a time when Hutton and O’Neil’s nip and craft had started to wane.
“I had a very good winter building into this summer – just getting the overs and robustness in my body to be able to bowl long spells. I bowled an eight-over spell today and I felt like my pace was up.
“I feel like the work I’ve done over the winter was proven in that first game against Durham, getting through 40 overs and pulling up okay. Even today, my body feels good and, yeah, I’ve just got to keep going now.”