Joshua Charles Tongue, born on 15 November 1997 in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, is a professional English cricketer known for his right-arm fast-medium bowling and right-handed batting.
He generates significant pace and bounce from a high, smooth action, making him a challenging opponent for batters.
He currently plays for the England Test team and Nottinghamshire, having previously represented Worcestershire.
Nicknamed “Jeevy Boy” by his Worcestershire teammates, Tongue emerged as a childhood prodigy, representing the Worcestershire Under-10 team at the age of six and progressing through the county’s youth system while attending King’s School in Worcester.
Siblings
Josh has one sibling, an older brother named Ryan Tongue.
Ryan is an opening batsman who has played for the Worcestershire Second XI and has served as captain of Barnards Green Cricket Club in the Birmingham and District League.
The brothers share a strong connection to the game, with their father Phil Tongue working as a local club cricket coach and groundsman at Barnards Green Cricket Club in Malvern.
Their mother, Jenny Firat, has also been involved with the club as treasurer.
Growing up, Josh and Ryan played against each other in the garden, often imagining they were competing in overseas Ashes Tests, an early experience that fueled Josh’s ambitions.
Career
Tongue made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Oxford MCC University in March 2016.
His breakthrough came in the 2017 County Championship season, when, at just 19 years old, he took 47 wickets and played a key role in Worcestershire’s promotion from Division Two.
He made his List A debut in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup.
Injuries, including a stress fracture of the back requiring surgery and later thoracic outlet syndrome treated with Botox injections, interrupted his progress and even led him to contemplate early retirement.
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Despite these setbacks, he signed a three-year contract with Nottinghamshire in July 2023.
After missing the 2024 season due to injury, he debuted for Nottinghamshire in 2025, scoring a maiden first-class half-century and taking a five-wicket haul.
He has also featured for Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
On the international stage, Tongue made his Test debut for England against Ireland on 1 June 2023 at Lord’s, taking five wickets in the innings.
He has since played multiple Tests, including strong performances against India and in the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia, where he claimed 18 wickets across three matches.
He has also appeared in limited-overs internationals for England.
Accolades
Tongue earned a place on the Lord’s honours board with his five-wicket haul on Test debut against Ireland.
In the 2025-26 Ashes, he delivered a standout performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, taking five wickets for 45 in one innings and seven in the match, earning Player of the Match and becoming the first England bowler to receive that award in an Ashes Test in Australia since Dean Headley in 1998.
His name was added to the MCG honours board.
He was England’s leading wicket-taker in the 2025 Test series against India with 19 wickets, including a five-wicket haul at The Oval.
The England and Wales Cricket Board awarded him a multi-format central contract, and he has contributed to Nottinghamshire’s successes, including key performances in County Championship matches.
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