Injury to Wood Opens Door for Tongue
A knee injury to England's pace spearhead Mark Wood has potentially cleared the path for Josh Tongue to make his Ashes debut in the crucial second Test at Brisbane's Gabba, starting this Thursday. Wood is reportedly struggling with soreness in his left knee, the same joint that required surgery back in March and forced him to miss the entire English summer.
The 35-year-old quick only recently returned from a 15-month absence from Test cricket, which was initially caused by an elbow problem before his knee surgery. His comeback in the first Ashes Test in Perth yielded figures of 0-21 and 0-23 as part of an English attack that ultimately crumbled in the final innings. Wood had also experienced a hamstring scare in the lead-up to the Perth match.
Tongue Shows Promise on Flat Canberra Deck
With Wood sidelined, the selection spotlight has turned to Josh Tongue, who was one of only three members of the full Ashes Test squad who made the trip to Canberra to play against the Prime Minister's XI. Tongue bowled with good pace and energy on the typically batter-friendly Manuka Oval pitch, although he finished the first day with figures of 0-48.
Despite the figures not reflecting his contribution, observers noted Tongue bowled without much luck and received little support from his England Lions fielders. His fellow squad member Matt Potts also pressed his claims, opening the bowling with Tongue and finishing with more rewarding figures of 2-40 against a PM's XI that declared at 8-308 on Saturday.
Selection Dilemma for England Management
England's team management now faces a significant decision regarding Wood's replacement. While Tongue appears to be the like-for-like pace option, the tourists could also opt to change their bowling balance by bringing in a spinner. The touring squad includes spin options Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks, either of whom could be considered if England believes the Gabba wicket will take turn.
Tongue's lively spells in Canberra, particularly on a pitch that usually offers little assistance to fast bowlers, have certainly enhanced his credentials. His ability to generate genuine pace on an unresponsive surface demonstrated the qualities that could trouble Australian batsmen in the high-stakes environment of an Ashes Test.
The final decision will be closely watched by cricket fans as England looks to bounce back after their disappointing performance in Perth. The second Test at the Gabba begins on Thursday, with England desperate to level the series before it moves to Adelaide.
