Tongue, who was not as a consequence of be concerned within the T20I leg as a part of preparations for England’s Check tour of South Africa subsequent month, will journey again to the UK to be assessed. He was reportedly carrying the issue along with his massive left toe in Pakistan, the place he solely performed within the first of England’s 4 tri-series video games.
An everyday within the Check aspect over the past 12 months, Tongue made his ODI and T20I debuts this yr and has fashioned a part of a burgeoning all-formats high-pace group alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker.
Though England endured disappointment in Pakistan, dropping their first three video games to overlook out on a spot within the tri-series remaining, they’ve been on an upward trajectory in ODIs, successful their three earlier bilateral engagements in 2026.
They’ve been strengthened in Australia by the return of Archer, who was rested for the Pakistan tour after a hefty workload throughout the English summer time and claimed 3 for 34 in England’s 92-run win on the WACA floor.
“He was good,” Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, mentioned. “I assumed he was in good rhythm truly. I believe he regarded like he was charging in properly. Clearly, swings the ball, he is bought abilities on the high, within the center, and on the dying. So it was good for him to get by some overs, get a few wickets as effectively.”
England additionally welcomed again Jacob Bethell after a knee damage that has stored him out since July. Bethell didn’t discover his means into the XI, however has been named as considered one of two vice-captains for the tour, alongside Will Jacks.
“Jacob’s a really sturdy chief inside our group throughout all codecs, and he is nonetheless working his means again from damage,” McCullum mentioned. “We’ll maintain assessing him day-after-day, and we’ll see the place we land. However , he is one other good expertise to have sitting on the sidelines in the meanwhile, and we’ll work it out as soon as we get into that first sport.”
England’s busy winter programme continues subsequent month in South Africa, with Tongue’s availability for the three-Check collection probably a key consideration. They’re as a consequence of play a warm-up match in Durban in slightly below 5 weeks’ time, with the primary Check beginning in Johannesburg on December 17.