After sharing ten Pakistan wickets equally on day one of the Leeds Test, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue walked off holding up the match ball between them – but there were no squabbles about who got to keep it for posterity after the pair came up with the idea to cut it clean in half.
England’s management duly had the ball sent down to the Headingley groundstaff, where it was split down the middle, allowing Robinson and Tongue a joint share in one of the more unusual pieces of cricket memorabilia.
“We were walking off and I was like, to Tonguey, I think we should split it,” Robinson said. “He said it and I said, I think we should do that, it’d be quite cool. It’s one of those things, you don’t have too many half-of-cricket-balls, so it would be something we never forget. It’s not very often two guys get five-for in the same innings, so a nice gesture and something to remember.”
Tongue, speaking on BBC Test Match Special, gave his senior bowling partner the credit: “Robbo said we can split the ball in half. The groundstaff have kindly done that. It’s the first time I’ve seen that happen. I’m sure I’ll be putting that up somewhere.”
It was 16th time two England bowlers have taken five wickets in the same innings in men’s Tests – and the first since 2006, when Simon Harmison and Monty Panesar achieved the feat, also against Pakistan, at Old Trafford.Robinson kicked off the day by claiming a wicket with the very first ball of the Test – the first time such an opener had occurred in England in almost two decades – and removed four of Pakistan’s top five batsmen before Tongue dismantled the tail, restricting the tourists to 171 in their first innings. Joe Root’s return as captain began with a resounding victory as England’s bowlers dominated from the outset.
Robinson, who recently welcomed his second daughter, Eva, into the world, added emotional weight to his performance. “Newborn arrived last Thursday at 2am, so catching up on sleep since arriving in Leeds has been a challenge,” he said. “Having just become a father again, today feels even more meaningful. I was thinking of my children throughout the innings, even though they’re at home with my wife.”
After a remarkable comeback earlier this summer, taking three wickets in his first over at Lord’s following a 28-month absence from Test cricket, Robinson emphasized his commitment to consistent performances. A recent training injury had kept him out of the second New Zealand Test, and he was overlooked for the third despite being fit. “It was frustrating not to be selected at The Oval due to a training mishap,” he reflected. “I was fit for the third Test at Trent Bridge but wasn’t picked – part of the game. Since then, I’ve prioritized my fitness and skill development, working closely with England’s medical team. I feel as strong as I ever have, though I’m still building rhythm after my Lord’s return. Playing regularly is key to maintaining peak performance.”
Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson share the plaudits after their pair of five-fors•Getty Images
“You never want to miss matches – you always want to play for England and influence games. I regret missing Trent Bridge, but I’m determined to avoid that in the future.”
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at Cricinfo. @alanroderick