‘He produces wicket-taking balls’: R Ashwin lavishes praise on young fast bowler | Cricket News
Former India off-spinner R Ashwin praised Josh Tongue after the England pacer’s Player of the Match performance in the Melbourne Test, drawing from his own memories of playing county cricket alongside him. “I remember when I played county cricket in 2017 in Worcestershire, Josh Tongue had stress fracture issues,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “He is able to produce those wicket-taking balls. Brydon Carse is a bit of an enforcer. If they are able to hold their lines for longer periods of time, they can create a good team. Also, the batting must have a bit of a thought. England can’t get themselves ahead and leave the game behind.”
Ashwin also pointed out England’s recurring batting issues and the lack of control in key moments. “For instance, how Harry Brook bottled the game against India. In Perth, there was a small passage of play. They go for that brute force without any thought process. England have an upside if they can correct their bowling. They need to start producing a spinner from somewhere to hold an end up,” he added. Tongue backed up Ashwin’s assessment with a match-winning display at the MCG. He finished with seven wickets in the Test, including a five-wicket haul of 5/45 in the first innings and 2/44 in the second, earning him the Player of the Match award. Speaking after the game, Tongue described the moment as unforgettable. “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,” he said. Reflecting on his injury-hit journey, Tongue admitted how close he came to walking away from the game after rupturing his right pectoral muscle in 2023 and later suffering a hamstring injury. “100%. I was in a tough situation with my body and stuff. I was potentially retiring, but I’m glad that I put in the hard work to get myself back playing cricket and now playing for England, it’s all that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
