Image Credit- AP
Josh Tongue has had an incredible year, going from
being on the edge of retirement to having a highly sought-after central
contract.
Calling it quits on a bright fast-bowling career and
using a Level 2 coaching badge was seriously considered at the end of 2022,
after a 15-month absence due to a shoulder ailment. His stock and confidence
are at an all-time high now that he is one of seven fast bowlers from England
signed to multi-year contracts, a degree of stability he says he has
“dreamt about”.
A lot has transpired for a player who turned 26 on
Wednesday in a brief amount of time. His shoulder’s nerves were relieved by a
botox injection in his neck, which made it possible for him to travel to Sri
Lanka with the England Lions at the beginning of 2023. The representative
side’s red-ball debut went well, scoring 5 for 34 and 3 for 77. Managing
director Rob Key, who presented his cap, was sufficiently impressed to support
the player’s case.
After that, Tongue got rid of Steve Smith in a
Worcestershire County Championship match against Sussex, which helped his
credentials early in the season. This led to his Test debut at Lord’s against
Ireland, when he finished with 5 for 66. He would dismiss Smith again in the
opening innings of the Ashes match at the same ground, though this time with
the Australian captain only scoring 110 runs.
Tongue moved from New Road to Trent Bridge, changing
counties as well, but he’ll have to wait to get to know his teammates from
Nottinghamshire. He took a plane to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to
participate in a Lions training camp, which prepared him for the demanding
five-Test tour of India to come in the New Year.
“The last year has been a bit of a
rollercoaster,” Tongue said. “Before that, nearly retiring because of
my shoulder injury and then being picked for that Lions tour of Sri Lanka, I
was over the moon about that. And this summer, playing the Ireland Test and
then being in the squad for the Ashes and then playing that game at Lord’s, it
was a special moment – a bit surreal, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.
“I didn’t start the season well for
Worcestershire (11 Division Two wickets at 41.45 in four matches leading up to
his maiden Test call-up), so being selected for that Ireland Test was a bit of
a surprise because there were a couple of injuries. Once I got into that
environment with Baz [Brendon McCullum] and Stokesy it was such a chilled
environment, and being around Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart) Broad was just
amazing.”