Fast bowler Josh Tongue has been named in England’s XI for this week’s one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s.
In December 2022, Tongue was signed by Kraaifontein Cricket Club for the second half of the Western Province Cricket Association premier league.
Several other England county stars were playing WPCA premier league cricket in Cape Town at the time, including Hampshire’s Fletcha Middleton, Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond and Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick.
In January 2023, though, Tongue’s Kraaifontein Cricket Club arrival was cancelled after being selected for the England Lions’ tour of Sri Lanka.
Tongue took 12 wickets in two matches during the tour of Sri Lanka – and has been key to Worcestershire’s 2023 County Championship campaign since.
“We have been monitoring Josh for quite some time and he deserves this call-up to the Test squad. It will be a great experience for him to understand and get used to the environment under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum,” said England selector Luke Wright.
“It is important to have players ready to respond and with a big summer of Test cricket coming up, we will need that depth to our squad. We wish Josh and the rest of the squad well for the first international of the campaign.”
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