Josh Tongue: ‘I needed a change at this stage of my career’

Tongue held talks with various counties earlier than deciding on Nottinghamshire, who beat off sturdy curiosity from Lancashire to safe his signature on an preliminary three-year deal. He mentioned that the chance to work with Notts bowling coach Kevin Shine once more was a significant component in his resolution, having beforehand been coached by him as a part of the ECB’s tempo programme.

“I have been on the membership since I used to be six years outdated and I’ve grown up enjoying for Worcester via the age teams and the academy and clearly signed my first professional deal there,” Tongue mentioned, talking at a #Funds4Runs session organised by LV= Insurance coverage at Stockport Georgians Cricket Membership. “I’ve bought an enormous coronary heart for the membership however I simply really feel like I am at a time in my profession after I want a brand new problem and a brand new place to play.

“I had just a few conferences with a special variety of golf equipment and Notts simply actually excited me with the best way they play their cricket and clearly the squad could be very sturdy. Peter Moores, the coach, and Kevin Shine, the bowling coach, actually attracted me.

“I’ve had stuff to do with Shiney previously, rising up. I really feel that is going to learn me, to have a special set of eyes on me to see how I can get higher. If that is extra tempo, or getting me in a greater place at contact, we’ll see.”

Requested if there was a single motive behind gamers leaving, Tongue mentioned: “I do not assume so. I am unsure in regards to the different lads leaving, however at my stage of my profession now, I simply felt like I wanted a change and to work with some completely different coaches and completely different gamers. Clearly that’s hopefully going to learn me sooner or later.”

Moeen, whose brother Kadir is Worcestershire’s assistant coach, steered that cash was a motivating issue for some departures. “I feel it could possibly be monetary – it in all probability is monetary with a few gamers,” he mentioned. “However I feel some gamers in all probability really feel like they wish to play at a much bigger venue or a much bigger membership. It does not all the time work out, however good luck to them.

“I like Worcester, I nonetheless love Worcester. Clearly my brother’s there and the coach, Richo [Alan Richardson]so I nonetheless comply with their progress and stuff. It is a disgrace, however it’s all the time been a membership or a county that is produced good gamers and I am certain they all the time will.”

Tongue and Pennington shared 12 wickets between them in Worcestershire’s win towards Leicestershire at Oakham this week, leaving them third in Division Two of the County Championship and solely two factors off a promotion spot. Richardson admitted some blended feelings, however mentioned they’d proceed to be chosen for the remainder of the summer time.

“Clearly I am disillusioned that they’re leaving,” Richardson mentioned, “however on the similar time they’re nonetheless our gamers and so they nonetheless wish to carry out for us for the remainder of the season, to assist us obtain our targets. Having them within the crew makes us higher. We aren’t going to vary our opinion on that simply because they’re leaving on the finish of the season.”

Josh Tongue was talking on behalf of LV= Insurance coverage, title sponsors of this summer time’s LV= Insurance coverage Ashes Collection. Head to https://www.lv.com/gi/cricket to search out out extra.