Josh Tongue’s Wild Bowling Disrupts India, Woakes Injured at The Oval

Josh Tongue experienced a dramatic and erratic bowling performance during the first day of the fifth Test at The Oval, initially delivering several wides and extras that cost England, but ultimately turning unplayable to take key wickets including Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite challenging conditions and a green pitch, Tongue’s unpredictable bowling style kept the Indian batsmen off balance, swinging from wild deliveries to precise, wicket-taking balls. Alongside Tongue, other England bowlers such as Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes also struggled with wides and extras, contributing to India reaching 204-6 by stumps. Woakes suffered a shoulder injury during the match, putting his Ashes squad hopes in doubt. India, trailing 2-1 in the series, found themselves under pressure due to these crucial wickets, making their task to level the series more difficult. England’s bowling attack showed both promise and inconsistency, highlighting the challenging conditions and the fluctuating momentum throughout the day.