With his seven-wicket haul including a five-wicket haul in the first innings during England’s four wicket-win over hosts Australia in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, England pacer Josh Tongue became the first England player to bag the Player of the Match in Ashes in Australia since 1998. The last time an England bowler was named Player of Match in an Ashes Test in Australia was when Dean Headley achieved the feat during the fourth Test of The Ashes at Melbourne in 1998. Tongue, who had ruptured his right pectoral muscle in 2023 followed by a hamstring injury, has shared how he almost had ‘retired’.
“I was in a tough situation with my body, potentially retiring. I’m glad I put in the hard work to get myself back playing cricket and now playing for England. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” Tongue said post the match.
The England blower had taken his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket during Australia’s first innings on Friday. The pacer had taken the wickets of Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Michael Neser and Scott Boland on a lively MCG pitch on Friday. It was also the fifth time that Tongue had taken the wicket of Smith across formats in his career. The Worcestershire pacer had removed Steve Smith in county championship three years ago apart from dismissing Smith twice in the 2023 Lord’s Ashes Test and had also dismissed Smith in a Hundred game for Manchester Originals. In a match, where all the wickets were taken by pacers, Tongues also talked about how he sees this week’s performance. “It’s what dreams are made of. Obviously waking up on Boxing Day, a few nerves but yeah, to get a fifer and get my name on the honours board, it’s a very special feeling . It was with 95,000 people yesterday. The Barmy Army have been unbelievable these past four games and especially here as well, in front of 95,000 people, it’s amazing being in the moment for them,” said Tongue.
Australia skipper Steve Smith too shower his praise on Tongue’s bowling and compared his bowling style to Australian pacer Scott Boland “He bowled nicely. He gets above the perpendicular, shapes the ball back into you with that angle, and draws you into playing, I suppose – similar to Scotty Boland in a way. (They have) similar release points and angles they create. He’s a good bowler, bowled really nicely in this game, and he’s done a pretty good job every time he’s had the opportunity to play for England,” Smith said.
England skipper Ben Stokes would also praise Tongue and would also share how the pacer had his share of injuries and how his natural attribute of bowling against right-handers with his release point helped him. “He’s had his injuries and when you do have injuries, you do tend to lean on the side of caution,” Stokes said, “but I think that Test match did so much good for him knowing that he can bowl long spells and then he can come back and back that up, and he’s reaped the rewards since he’s been given the opportunity out here. He’s got those natural attributes – in particular to right-handers – with his release point and how he constantly makes right-handers feel like they need to play the ball. He’s just got that natural wicket-taking ability that is so hard to come by. He should be very, very proud of himself the way that he’s operated in this game, bowled some long, big, spells and he’s also backed it up. He’s been phenomenal in the two opportunities that he’s been given so far in this series.” Stokes said.
