Young English pacer Josh Tongue is set to make his Ashes debut against Australia at the Lord's on Wednesday, June 28, but he is already preparing himself for the battle of a lifetime.
Tongue, who plays for Worcestershire in County Cricket, got the wicket of Steve Smith while the batter was playing for Sussex. He now aims to get the Australian's wicket a second time, he told ESPNCricInfo.
"It would be great to get Steve Smith out again," said Tongue. "I was pretty happy the first time so, if I can do it on a second occasion, that would be good for the team as well and hopefully that will happen."
Before taking the wicket of Smith, Tongue had 11 wickets in the County Championship. Against the batter, the medium pacer produced a fine delivery that would nip back and trap the Aussie in front of the stumps, dismissing him for 30.
The 25-year-old made his Test debut against Ireland earlier in June and picked up five wickets in the second innings at the Lord's. He added that it was a very special moment for him to make his debut at the Lord's and the spell against the Irish side in their one-off Test should give him confidence against Australia.
"I knew the step up from county cricket to international cricket would be a big one, and playing here at Lord's was a very special moment for myself, having never played here before," Tongue said. "To then get five wickets against Ireland on my debut was an incredible feeling and should give me confidence ahead of another chance against Australia.
"There was a bit of pace in the wicket against Ireland so more of that would be nice," he added. "There is a green tinge to the pitch at the moment which would benefit all of our seamers. And if there is a bit of nip and movement in the air then I think our bowling unit can benefit from that and use the conditions in our favour."
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Ashes 2023: Dream come true, says Josh Tongue after getting picked for Lord’s Test
