In the second Ashes 2023 Test at Lord’s, Australia’s opening batsmen, David Warner and Usman Khawaja, faced a challenging situation. The pitch had a noticeable green tinge, and they were put into bat under overcast conditions. Despite the testing circumstances, Warner and Khawaja performed admirably, dominating the first session.
However, during an unfortunate moment, Khawaja found himself at a loss against fast bowler Josh Tongue. While attempting to leave the ball, Khawaja suffered a lapse in concentration and got bowled.
This dismissal marked Tongue’s first wicket in his second-ever Test match, adding to his impressive debut performance earlier this summer against Ireland, where he claimed a five-wicket haul.
England’s decision to include Tongue in the team for the Lord’s Test, replacing Moeen Ali, signaled their intention to rely solely on pace. With Mark Wood still recovering from injury, Ben Stokes believed Tongue’s added speed would provide a point of difference in their bowling attack, complementing the likes of Broad, Anderson, and Robinson.
First Ashes wicket secured 🔒
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2023
Masterful from Josh Tongue ✨ #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/pS963Awgop
However, Tongue’s extra pace also carried the risk of being punished by the batsmen. Warner took advantage of this, unleashing an onslaught against Tongue and hitting him for three fours and a six. In his first three overs, Tongue conceded 24 runs. Despite the early setbacks, Stokes persisted with Tongue, and his perseverance paid off just before the Lunch break, when he dismissed Khawaja with a well-executed delivery.