Josh Tongue, a 27-year-old fast bowler from England, made a real splash on his Test debut for Nottinghamshire. He recently started the 2025 cricket season with an outstanding performance. His return to competitive cricket is big news, after he missed the whole 2024 campaign through injury. The Test at Trent Bridge was capped by Tongue’s star-making performance as he took seven wickets. Not least, he climaxed his first blade in 590 days when he took out Ollie Robinson, caught off his bowling.
Tongue’s nerves were evident as he walked out to bat during his maiden game for Nottinghamshire. Emotions flowed as he looked back on his remarkable return to the sport.
“It was an amazing feeling to back out here and to play for Nottinghamshire for the first time.” – Josh Tongue
After a nervous beginning in the first Test, where he went for 92 runs in the opening innings, Tongue made returns to remember. He followed that with 5-66 in the second innings, leading the charge as Nottinghamshire beat Durham by eight wickets. His clutch effort threw his squad over the top with a winning performance. It was his first wickets in any format since August 2023.
For Tongue, the path to recovery started when he signed from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire ahead of 2023. He knows that frustration first-hand after spending much of his honeymoon last season waiting for clearance to join the action. He enjoyed a productive return to action with the England Lions Down Under. Despite this, he appeared twice in Brisbane and Sydney without taking a wicket in those matches.
Looking back on his first match, Maloney said he had a “torn feeling” about how he played.
“If I was true with myself I was probably a bit disappointed with how I went on the first day, conceding a few too many runs myself.” – Josh Tongue
Even though he harboured some doubts at the start, Tongue’s work in general was evidence of his promise and ability. His teammates and coaching staff couldn’t have been happier with the game result. Tongue wanted the fans to go away from the ground enjoying Nottinghamshire’s first win of the season.
“But hopefully they have gone home really happy with the first win of the season.” – Josh Tongue
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