Sometimes, by a mere coincidence, you could end up witnessing an unexpected event. Back in early 2018, yours truly in the office premises was navigating through a few cricket videos on YouTube. And just like that, the eyes zoomed in on a small YouTube clip from 2017 that had Kamlesh Nagarkoti ripping through an England Under-19 side, in Chesterfield. By then, Nagarkoti was a well-known figure in the Indian cricketing circles. There was another promising pace bowler from the opposing side that caught the eye. The name of the bowler was Joshua Charles Tongue.
Outside of the Worcestershire club and the County Championship, Tongue’s attributes were largely unknown. Although, during the previous season, there were whispers about his unorthodox bowling action on the County circuit, with him taking 47 wickets. Returning to the short video, Tongue’s trait – Bowling from an 11 O’clock release or rather the wide angle – was causing enough issues for an Indian Under-19 side comprising Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill and Manjot Kalra. Occasionally, it was straightening too. In a bowling attack that also consisted of Matthew Potts and Henry Brookes, he was the only one who looked impressive, returning figures of 3 for 69.
Many moons later, those same attributes, alongside extra bounce and good pace, are giving a few headaches in the Australian camp, in the Ashes series. One of those batters perplexed by the awkward angle was the doyen of unorthodox batting, Steve Smith, at the MCG. Smith was castled by a delivery that nipped back in sharply. The previous one, though, was angling away. After getting cleaned up, Smith seemed to be gathering a few notes about Tongue’s skills as he made gestures to himself. The all-time great batter has already been dismissed by Tongue 5-6 times in Test cricket and County Championship.
Marnus Labuschagne, his teammate, was also at the receiving end of Tongue’s bowling characteristics. A few just nipped into the right-hander from a wide angle and then for one to hold its line to force the edge. As a batter, it must be difficult to pick the release point with this bowler: Both hands are moving everywhere and then Tongue delivers it with his upper body going outside the perpendicular. Thankfully, from a batter’s point of view, he doesn’t have another added weapon in his quiver – The hyperextension.
Even his stats vindicate his success – 43 wickets in a mere eight Tests, at an astounding strike rate of 39.6. His bowling average stands at a noteworthy 26.81. It also has to be remembered that he plays for a Test side, who spill enough catches. Granted that the sample size is small but he has already produced game-breaking performances in Leeds and MCG. Tongue’s late burst also provided England with a small window of opportunity in the Adelaide Test.
Things weren’t always this rosy for Tongue though. Over 14 months in 2021 and 2022, he thought of quitting cricket due to persistent shoulder injuries. Tongue had even acquired a level 2 coaching certificate. After a couple of failed shoulder surgeries, it was David Murray, the surgeon, who suggested a Botox injection to his neck which helped him convalesce from his problem.
In the 2023 Ashes, Tongue put on a fine exhibition of pace bowling at Lord’s, dismissing Usman Khawaja, David Warner and Smith. Just when everything seemed to be going according to plan, Tongue was laid low by a pectoral injury. It was only during late 2024 that he returned to action with the England Lions touring South Africa and then Australia.
To throw in a word of caution, moving forward, Tongue’s unorthodox characteristics could lead to more injury woes. But his salient features are set to trouble a string of batters. Just that the smiling assassin needs a captain who understands that he doesn’t exactly have great control and might just leak some runs.
