In a scintillating display of fast bowling, Josh Tongue, the young paceman from England, made a memorable debut in the Ashes by dismissing Australian opener David Warner with a peach of a delivery on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s in London.
With England opting to bowl first on a pitch favoring seam and swing, cricket enthusiasts were eagerly anticipating a dominant display from the English bowlers. However, the Australian opening pair of Warner and Usman Khawaja posed a formidable challenge as they stitched together a solid 73-run partnership.
As the situation grew concerning for England, Tongue emerged as the game-changer, showcasing his exceptional skills and leaving a lasting impression on both fans and critics alike. Tongue delivered a stunning blow by dismantling the stumps of both Khawaja and Warner, swinging the momentum back in favor of England.
Having dismissed Khawaja earlier in the session, Tongue unleashed a delivery of sheer brilliance to dismiss Warner, who had been batting with supreme confidence. Warner had notched up a magnificent half-century off just 66 balls, displaying his trademark aggressive style. His milestone was marked with a powerful six over square leg, demonstrating his authority at the crease.
However, Tongue had other plans. Approaching the crease from around the wicket, the 25-year-old unleashed an unplayable in-swinging delivery that completely deceived Warner. The ball snaked through Warner’s defense, crashing into the stumps, and sending the Australian opener back to the pavilion. Warner departed after a well-made 66 off 88 balls, comprising of eight boundaries and a six.
Here is the video:
Warner GONE! 🤩
S̶t̶u̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶B̶r̶o̶a̶d̶ Josh Tongue gets his man! #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/3sw6FSU2To
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2023
Australia, meanwhile, finished the opening day with 339 runs on the board losing five wickets. Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 85. He formed crucial partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne (47) and Travis Head (77) to ensure Australia stay ahead of the hosts at stumps.
