The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday that fast bowler Josh Tongue, who has never played for England, has been added to the team of 16 players for the upcoming one-off Test against Ireland.
The lone test will be played at Lord’s from June 1-4, followed on June 16 by the start of the five-match Ashes series against Australia.
The 16-man squad for England’s one-off test against Ireland is set, according to the country’s cricket board (ECB), and includes untested fast bowler Josh Tongue.
Despite the fact that Tongue, 25, has not yet played for his country in any capacity, he has made an impression in County Championship Division Two this year by taking 11 wickets for Worcestershire. In February, when the England Lions defeated Sri Lanka in a test match, he also claimed eight wickets.
Prior to the start of the five-test Ashes series against Australia at Edgbaston on June 16, the lone test will take place at Lord’s from June 1-4.
In the months leading up to the Ashes, England has struggled with injuries, with fast bowler Jofra Archer being ruled out of the series and fellow quicks Ollie Robinson and James Anderson returning from setbacks.
“It’s critical to have players who can react quickly, and with a busy test cricket season ahead, we’ll need our squad to have depth. Luke Wright, England’s men’s selector, wished Josh and the rest of the team luck in their upcoming first international match.
Conor Olphert, who wasn’t able to return in time due to a knee issue, was replaced in Cricket Ireland’s squad on Wednesday by seamer Matthew Foster, according to a late change report.