‘Kya tongue australia ko tung kar paaega’ – Fans react as Josh Tongue replaces Moeen Ali ahead of the second Test in Ashes 2023

Ahead of the second Test of the ongoing Ashes 2023, England has replaced Moeen Ali with Josh Tongue. The latter made his Test debut against Ireland last month and took a fifer. On the other hand, Ali took back his Test retirement for the ongoing series. He did decently although the team lost the first Test by two wickets. Meanwhile, with the Lord’s wicket expected to be greener than usual, the home team has opted for an extra pacer.

With Tongue’s inclusion, it will be an all-out pace attack, including veterans, James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Apart from them, Ollie Robinson, skipper Ben Stokes (if he bowls), and Tongue will take responsibility for the bowling department. Meanwhile, a day ahead of the second Test, Stokes said that the team was looking to play Mark Wood but chose to go with Tongue.

“We wanted to play Mark Wood,” Stokes said. “We felt that he could definitely start the game but with conversations, we felt the extra week with build-up and getting his loads up would give him a better chance and an opportunity to play a full part from Leeds onwards.

Josh Tongue is a like-to-like replacement for Mark Wood – Ben Stokes

“And we brought Tonguey into the team as a like-for-like with Woody. We turned up here at Lord’s and saw there was quite a lot of grass on the wicket, a bit of green. Traditionally, Lord’s has offered more for the seamers and with how Mo’s finger was last week… we just thought we would get more out of our fourth bowler being Josh Tongue this week.”

“He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to give what he’s known for throughout this Test match. So the decision was made to allow him to keep building his body up to give himself the best opportunity to go out, from Leeds onwards, to play a full part.”

This is how Twitter reacted

https://twitter.com/CricketHolik/status/1673626367743918087?s=20

https://twitter.com/ritik______raj/status/1673624868267630593?s=20

https://twitter.com/ImPrabhavB/status/1673625023310077953?s=20

https://twitter.com/mjwillmakeit/status/1673627393737773058?s=20

https://twitter.com/KnightWatcher12/status/1673628374810624006?s=20

Man why are they not playing mark wood ?

— Muktikanta Panda (@MuktiKa03928814) June 27, 2023

Time for Moeen to take retirement again.

— Finan (@imvivekanand_) June 27, 2023

https://twitter.com/driveovercovers/status/1673630091920936963?s=20

https://twitter.com/aditya10on9/status/1673636029075718144?s=20

Tongue vs head

— Next ICC Trophy When (@Next_Icc_Trophy) June 27, 2023