England seamer Josh Tongue retained in squad for first two Ashes Tests

England have named an unchanged 16-man squad for the first two Ashes Tests of the summer with Josh Tongue’s fine debut against Ireland enough to keep his place in the group.

The Worcestershire seamer Tongue was a late addition to England’s squad for this week’s one-off Test against Ireland because of injury concerns over Jimmy Anderson (groin) and Ollie Robinson (ankle), who are both expected to be fit to face Australia at Edgbaston on 16 June.

Ben Stokes (capt), Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Tongue has caught the eye at Lord’s, hitting 91mph in his first spell on day one before his maiden Test wickets followed on the second day.

Both Ben Stokes, the captain, and Brendon McCullum, the head coach, spoke glowingly before the four-day match about Tongue, who spent 15 months on the sidelines with a nerve problem in his shoulder before returning to fitness in 2022, and last month he dismissed Sussex’s Australia star Steve Smith.

The 25-year-old is now in contention for the first two Ashes Tests alongside his fellow seamers Anderson, Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Robinson, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.

Jack Leach remains the only spinner and Essex’s Dan Lawrence is England’s only batting cover.

The players will report to Birmingham on 12 June and are due to practise at Edgbaston from 13 June. After the match in Birmingham, the second Test starts at Lord’s on 28 June.

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