England fast bowler Josh Tongue has been withdrawn from the upcoming ODI series against Australia due to an injury to his big left toe. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday, November 7, that the 28-year-old will travel back to the United Kingdom to undergo further assessment regarding the severity of the issue.
Tongue had been included in the squad specifically for the ODIs as part of a strategic workload management initiative, having been intentionally rested for the preceding T20I leg of the tour. This decision aligned with white-ball coach Brendon McCullum’s stated objective of coordinating closely with red-ball head coach Stephen Fleming to manage player availability across formats effectively.
The bowler’s most recent international appearance came during the ODI tri-series in Pakistan, where he claimed 3 for 79 in a single match as Sri Lanka successfully chased down England’s total of 429 in Rawalpindi. His selection followed an impressive run of form, notably taking 19 wickets across three Test matches against Pakistan before appearing in two home ODIs against the same opposition. Where he featured in just one game, returning figures of 3 for 79 as Sri Lanka chased down England’s 429 for a sensational win in Rawalpindi, tongue was most recently in action in the ODI tri-series in Pakistan.
As of Saturday, England has not announced a replacement for Tongue in the squad. The three-match series is scheduled to commence on November 13 in Perth. The touring party remains led by captain Harry Brook, with the squad also featuring Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Sonny Baker, and Henry Crocombe.
