Ashes 2023: "It Would Be Great To Get Steve Smith Out Again" - Josh Tongue Says Ahead Of The Second Test Match At Lord’s

England pacer Josh Tongue expressed his desire to pick up the wicket of ace Australian batter Steve Smith in the second Test of the ongoing Ashes series. England will take on Australia in the second Test of the five-match series at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London starting on June 28.

The England team announced their playing XI for the second Test. Josh Tongue, who made his debut against Ireland, was included in the team in place of the injured Moeen Ali. They will have four front-line seamers in their lineup, with Ben Stokes and Joe Root serving as batting all-rounders.

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I Dreamt As A Kid About Playing In An Ashes – Josh Tongue

Speaking ahead of the second Ashes Test, Josh Tongue described playing in an Ashes match as a dream come true moment for him.

“I dreamt as a kid about playing in an Ashes, so to get the nod now is that dream come true. It would be great to get Steve Smith out again. I was pretty happy the first time,” Tongue told The Mail.

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The right-arm pacer dismissed Steve Smith during the match between Worcestershire and Sussex in the County Championship. Tongue trapped the former Australian skipper in front of the stumps for 30 runs.

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I’m Here To Do It As Best I Can – Josh Tongue

Josh Tongue highlighted that he would bowl according to the team management’s plans in the upcoming match. He will add extra pace to the line-up, with the team possessing a one-dimensional attack.

“That first ball Zak Crawley hit to the boundary — the noise was just unbelievable. From the moment I stepped into the dressing room ahead of the Ireland game, I’ve been made to feel so welcome. Whatever Stokesy asks me to do, I’m here to do it as best I can,” he further stated.

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“I knew the step up to international cricket would be a big one. To then get five wickets against Ireland was an incredible feeling and should give me confidence against Australia,” he concluded.

The 25-year-old made his Test debut against Ireland at the same venue earlier this month. He impressed with his bowling in the match, despite going wicketless in the first innings. The pacer picked up a five-wicket haul in the second innings to help England register a 10-wicket victory within three days.

England XI For 2nd Ashes Test

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson.

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