'Speechless' Josh Tongue set to make Test debut for England against Ireland at Lord's
- Planet Sport writer
- 30 May 2023
Seamer Josh Tongue is set to make his Test debut when England take on Ireland at Lord's from Thursday.
Josh Tongue will make his first appearance in Test cricket when England take on Ireland at Lord's this week.
The Worcestershire paceman, who has taken 11 wickets in County Championship Division Two this season including that of Australia star Steve Smith in his side's draw with Sussex, was named in the squad after injuries to James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Olly Stone.
Tongue said: "It's an amazing feeling. Speechless really, even from when I got the first call-up to be in the squad. Now being in the actual team, it's just a dream come true really.
"Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) came up to me just before training finished today and gave me the good news. I bowled at some of the lads on Monday, I felt like I bowled nicely and obviously I must have bowled fairly well to get selected."
Tongue will feature in a three-pronged seam attack with Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts for the four-day match which starts on Thursday.
Jonny Bairstow makes his first international appearance since last August after a long-term ankle injury and will keep wicket.
Bairstow is listed to bat at number seven, with Yorkshire colleague Harry Brook keeping his place at number five after four centuries in five Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand over the winter.
They are separated in the provisional order by captain Ben Stokes, while Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley will open the batting, with vice-captain Ollie Pope at number three and Joe Root at four.
