Follow UsEngland have decided to leave out Mark Wood for yet another Test due to his elbow injury woes, while Josh Tongue has replaced Moeen Ali in the playing XI for the second Ashes Test match at the Lord's. Moeen Ali suffered a calloused spinning finger while batting after returning to the Test arena upon Ben Stokes' insistence.
The injury has cut short Moeen's stay in Test cricket and it remains to be seen if he will ever play for England in red-ball format again. His absence meant Joe Root remains England's only spin-bowling option for the iconic Test.
Tongue, the 25-year-old Worcestershire quick, was initially only called up as cover due to injury concerns over pacemen James Anderson and Ollie Robinson for the Ireland Test but was rested prior to the start of the Ashes.
Tongue toured Sri Lanka with the England Lions in February, picking 5 for 34 and 3 for 77 against Sri Lanka A. Tongue started the County season with 11 wickets in four Division Two Championship matches and dismissed Steve Smith in the match against Sussex.
The striking aspect of his bowling is his ability to generate pace and bounce and with Mark Wood not being available, England decided to use his services on rather pacy Lord's wicket.
England Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Josh Tongue, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson