England makes surprise change ahead of Lords Test

England has recalled Worcestershire fast bowler Josh Tongue for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's after Moeen Ali injured his spinning finger.

Tongue's inclusion is the only change by England after losing the first Test at Edgbaston by two wickets, and sets up an all-seam attack in the second match starting on Wednesday evening (AEST).

Tongue made his Test debut earlier this month against Ireland on a slow pitch at Lord's and took 5-66 in the second innings of the 10-wicket win

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Josh Tongue runs in to bowl on day three of the Test match between England and Ireland at Lords.

The 25-year-old has been chosen ahead of Mark Wood — England's fastest bowler, who hasn't played a Test since December — Chris Foakes and Matthew Potts.

Ali badly blistered his right index finger at Edgbaston because of a heavy workload after coming out of Test retirement.

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England coach Brendon McCullum said the 36-year-old would play if fully fit and the spinner had appeared to prove it at training.

But England will use Joe Root's part-time off-breaks beside a seam attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson and Tongue.

Speaking to 2GB's Wide World of Sports, Mark Taylor said the inclusion of paceman Mitchell Stark would be the only possible change Australia could spring.

"I think all of the Australian bowlers will be a handful, there looks to be a little bit more grass on this pitch," he said.

Mitchell Starc of Australia bowls during an Australia Training Session at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

"There will be more pace and carry in this pitch than what we saw at Edgbaston last week.

"I think all the Aussie quicks will be keen to play, and particularly Mitchell Starc who I know would have been bitterly disappointed to miss out on Edgbaston.

"[Australia] will go into this Test match with a of confidence having won a very close one only a week ago.

- Additional reporting by Emily Patterson.

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