Josh Tongue has revealed that direct-speaking England captain Joe Root left the squad under no illusions regarding expected behavioural standards as they attempt to clean up their public image.
Root was clearly annoyed on Tuesday while responding to the latest off-field controversy surrounding the squad, describing himself as “hacked off” following an incident where fast bowler Brydon Carse was briefly arrested outside a venue in Derby on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
Carse was dropped from the squad pending an inquiry by the Cricket Regulator, leading Root to hold a ‘robust’ team discussion prior to Thursday’s second Rothesay Test against Pakistan, setting out his expectations just a fortnight after making his return as skipper.
Tongue insists that the message was received loud and clear following ten months regularly disrupted by unwelcome stories concerning team discipline off the pitch.
“We had a chat before training yesterday as Joe said. It was a very good conversation and he made it clear what he expects from us,” he said.
“He’s been around the England dressing room for plenty of years now, he knows what it takes to be the top professional and I think we’ve just got to do the best we can moving forward.
“I think we’ve just got to make sure we’re as professional as we can be. Obviously things have happened and we need to try and move on from them to show all the youngsters growing up wanting to play for England that it’s an amazing place to be.
“Playing for England is obviously a privilege. We want to give the next generation the best place that they can be really.”
Tongue is one of eight centrally contracted players who have been present during or involved with late-night incidents in recent times.
He was present with white-ball captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell in Wellington when the former was hit by a bouncer the day before an ODI, though the Cricket Regulator ultimately cleared Tongue of any wrongdoing because he was not in the matchday squad.
In the time since, the 28-year-old fast bowler has become one of England’s most reliable figures, offering a bright spark in a difficult Ashes campaign and cementing his place across all three formats during the current summer.
“I just tried to move on from that (Wellington) situation really and focus on the cricket. It’s an absolute privilege to play for England, especially walking out and thousands of people watching you,” he said.
“Things have been happening off the field but I’ve been personally trying to sort of forget about it and try and play as best cricket as I can for England and try to put England in best positions to win games of cricket. That’s why we’re here and that’s what we want to do for the fans.”
England have failed to secure a multi-match Test series victory since visiting New Zealand in December 2024, drawing at home against India before enduring a 4-1 loss in Australia and a defeat to the Kiwis that ended the Bazball era led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Consequently, Tongue is still waiting for a first series success, despite a personal record showing 65 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 27.38. The upcoming five days at Lord’s represent a major opportunity to put that right against a visiting side dominated in every area at Headingley last week.
“Yeah, it’d be amazing to win a series,” said Tongue.
“Obviously it would be my first one in the red ball stuff. We’ve just got to focus, make sure we play our best cricket just be nice and relaxed out there and hopefully we get over the line.”
