Josh Tongue explains journey from contemplating retirement to earning central contract from ECB

It has been a whirlwind last 12 months for young England pacer Josh Tongue. From contemplating retirement in the fag-end of 2022 due to a serious shoulder injury that kept him out of action for 15 months, the 26-year-old became one of only seven English fast bowlers to earn multi-year central contracts with the England Cricket Board (ECB).

The managing director of the England men's cricket team, Rob Key, handed Tongue his maiden red-ball cap for the England Lions at the beginning of 2023 during the tour to Sri Lanka. The youngster impressed Key by picking up eight wickets on his debut.

Tongue's stocks raised substantially when he dismissed Steve Smith in the County Championship while playing for Worcestershire against Sussex. The right-arm seamer went on to receive his Test debut during a one-off Test between England and Ireland at Lord's in June. He impressed fans as well as experts as he picked up his first five-for in international cricket. An Ashes debut followed as he played the Lord's Test and dismissed Smith once again.

"The last year has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Before that, nearly retiring because of my shoulder injury and then being picked for that Lions tour of Sri Lanka, I was over the moon about that. And this summer, playing the Ireland Test and then being in the squad for the Ashes and then playing that game at Lord's, it was a special moment - a bit surreal, I don't think it's sunk in yet," Tongue told ESPNcricinfo.

"I didn't start the season well for Worcestershire (11 Division Two wickets at 41.45 in four matches leading up to his maiden Test call-up), so being selected for that Ireland Test was a bit of a surprise because there were a couple of injuries. Once I got into that environment with Baz [Brendon McCullum] and Stokesy it was such a chilled environment, and being around Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart) Broad was just amazing," he added.

I never thought I'd be batting with Jimmy Anderson: Josh Tongue

Tongue fondly remembers his Test debut against Ireland and he also noted how anxious he was to play the game in front of a packed stadium. He also mentioned that he never thought he would get to bat alongside James Anderson but that opportunity came in the Ashes Test at Lord's.

"A lot did happen in that match!" he reflected. "For me personally, just walking through the Long Room about to do the national anthem. I have said to all my family and friends I am never going to forget that moment, in the Long Room. It's just electric in there. It didn't help that the Oil protestors came on straight away - and I was just like 'urgh, I just want to get playing now'. Even in the Ireland Test, I think there was like 28,000 in and that is the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of and I knew when I got told I was playing in the Ashes match that this is going to be full - 35,000. Just amazing," Tongue said.

"Even batting towards the end with Jimmy - I never thought I'd be batting with Jimmy Anderson at the other end even a couple of months before that - the crowd was amazing. I tried to have a bit of fun (Tongue struck 19 off 26), tried to move round the crease and, erm, got bowled at the end."

Tongue has the ability to bowl consistently at speeds in excess of 140 kph. He reckoned that this could make him a potent weapon in subcontinental conditions.

"I think my pace will help in subcontinental conditions and I can get the ball to reverse as well and my bouncer tactic, which Stokes obviously likes, will benefit the team. I know being in that Test squad, the pressure is really taken off you. Stokesy and Baz were so good in terms of telling me how to play my cricket - 'you are here for a reason, you are good enough to be here, have fun, chill out, don't put too much pressure on yourself' - and obviously it is going to be a lot different over in India. I have never been to India before, it will be very exciting if I am selected," Tongue added.

The talented pacer has been picked in England's squads for the upcoming white-ball assignments against the West Indies in December. After the debacle in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Jos Buttler and Co. will be looking to start afresh and rebuild for the future. Tongue could be one of the players to look out for in England's quest to revive white-ball fortunes.