England’s Tongue and Robinson Split Match Ball After Matching Five-Wicket Hauls

Just as footballers often keep the match ball after scoring a hat-trick, cricketers typically pocket the ball after securing a five-wicket haul. But what happens when two bowlers achieve this feat in the same innings?

England seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue found a creative solution after both claimed five-wicket hauls on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan. Suggesting they split the match ball in half, Tongue asked the groundstaff to cut it, a novelty he described as a first, adding that he plans to display his portion.

Robinson, who showcased his half of the ball in a post-match media conference, explained the spontaneous idea. “We were walking off the field, Josh said it, and I agreed, saying it would be quite cool,” Robinson recalled. “You don’t often get to keep halves of a cricket ball, making it a unique souvenir we will never forget.”

The impressive performances of the pace duo provided the perfect start for Joe Root in his second stint as England Test captain. Tongue finished with figures of 5-46 and Robinson took 5-51, dismissing Pakistan for 171 after England won the toss. By the close of play, the home side had reached 112-2 at Headingley in Leeds.

This achievement marked the first time since 2006 that a pair of England bowlers registered five-wicket hauls in the same Test innings, following Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar’s feat against Pakistan at Old Trafford. After leading the team off the field hand in hand, the duo enlisted team manager Wayne Bentley to have the ball cut by the groundstaff. Robinson recalled asking Bentley if it was possible, and within five minutes, the split ball was returned, a unique memento of a historic day.

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