Josh Tongue to miss substantial portion of England home summer due to injury

With the curtain set to fall on James Anderson's illustrious 21-year Test career following the first Test of the forthcoming three-match series against the West Indies in July, England are bracing itself for the task of identifying and nurturing successors to fill the void created by the departure of the veteran bowler, who has been the backbone of the red-ball bowling attack. 

However, there's been a notable setback to their plans at present. Josh Tongue, the 26-year-old fast bowler who was touted to be a frontrunner for the vacancy, and whom England had intended to provide with substantial match practice before the Ashes 2025 Down Under, has been sidelined due to aggravation of a pectoral injury he suffered last year. 

Following his last Test appearance against Australia in July of 2023, Tongue's injury sidelined him for the India series this year, as well as limited-overs contests against New Zealand, Ireland, and the West Indies in the upcoming year.

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According to a statement from the England & Wales Cricket Board, Tongue suffered a blow to his recovery from the initial injury, and that they'd be unable to predict the duration of his rehabilitation.

"Josh has had a setback to his original injury. There is no timescale on when he'll return to action," the England & Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

In his debut Test against Ireland, Tongue showcased his talent by taking a five-wicket haul in the second innings, which earned him a spot in the second Test against Australia for the Ashes. His ability to bowl full consistently with the new ball and switch to an aggressive style with the old and soft ball garnered praise from Test skipper Ben Stokes. 

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With Stuart Broad having retired last year, England find themselves in need of a new bowling combination with the brand new cherry. However, they have the experienced duo of Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson, who boast a considerable number of Test caps between them, alongside promising talents like Matthew Potts and Gus Atkinson.