England have sprung a major Ashes surprise by including Josh Tongue in their attack for the Second Test at Lord’s, with Mark Wood not ready to feature and Moeen Ali left out.
Tongue, who only made his debut against Ireland at the start of the month, comes in for Moeen in the only change from last week’s two-wicket defeat at Edgbaston as Ben Stokes opts for an all-seam attack.
Speaking at Lord’s on Tuesday, Stokes confirmed he had hoped to have Wood available but after an “honest” conversation with his Durham teammate decided the quick, who has not played red-ball cricket yet this summer, remains short of full match fitness.
"We wanted to play Mark Wood and we felt he could start the game but from the conversations we’ve had, we’ve decided that the extra week with build-up and getting loads up would give him chance of playing a full part from [the Third Test in] Leeds onwards,” Stokes said.
“Me and Mark are great friends and we go back along way. It’s good to be able to have conversations individually with these guys. I spoke to him and he was very honest with me in saying he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to give what he’s known for throughout this Test match.”
Moeen struggled with blistering to his spinning finger throughout his Test return in Birmingham and despite that wound recovering and the all-rounder coming through training this week, England have decided the possibility of a recurrence is too much of a risk.
Rehan Ahmed, the 18-year-old leggie, had been called up as cover for Moeen but on a green wicket at Lord’s, Stokes has decided against naming a specialist spinner in his side for the first time since taking over the captaincy. Joe Root will instead provide the part-time spin option, with the seven-day turnaround since the First Test deemed sufficient for Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad and James Anderson to recover from their heavy workloads and go again.
“We turned up here and have seen quite a lot of grass on the wicket, it’s quite green,” Stokes said. “With how Mo’s finger was last week, it’s actually recovered really well, but we thought we’d get more out of our fourth bowler being Josh Tongue this week.”
Tongue’s inclusion marks a rapid rise for the Worcestershire seamer, who was not even in the squad to face Ireland at the start of the month until minor injuries ruled Robinson and Anderson out of contention.
The 25-year-old leapfrogged Chris Woakes to get the nod for that game and impressed, taking a second innings five-for and bowling a hostile bouncer spell at speeds touching 90mph. In the absence of Wood - as well as Jofra Archer and Olly Stone - that makes Tongue the closest England have to a genuine pace option.
“I was particularly impressed with the in-game moments where he played different roles with the ball,” Stokes said. “His first spell was just running up and bowling, trying to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. Then we used him in a different way where we attacked the Ireland batters with our short ball plan.
“Broady, Jimmy and Robbo will tell you it’s always nice having someone who can bowl at 90mph doing it. Just having that versatility as a bowler this week is going to be very useful.”
