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Five wickets each, half a ball each: Robinson, Tongue split match ball after Pak rout

India Today · India Today Sports Desk · 2026-08-20T12:22:05+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Five wickets each, half a ball each: Robinson, Tongue split match ball after Pak rout Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue split the match ball after sharing five-wicket hauls against Pakistan at Headingley. The gesture capped England's rout of Pakistan for 171 and highlighted Robinson's strong comeback. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue found an unusual solution to a very old cricketing tradition at Headingley. After both England pacers took five-wicket hauls against Pakistan, they decided to split the match ball in half so each could keep a piece. The unusual souvenir came after England's bowlers dismissed Pakistan for 171 on the opening day of the first Test. Robinson finished with 5/51 and Tongue took 5/46, becoming the first pair of England bowlers to claim five-wicket hauls in the same Test innings since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2006. ENG vs PAK, 1st Test Day: HIGHLIGHTS "Robbo said we can split the ball in half," Tongue told Test Match Special. "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." Robinson later showed his half of the ball to reporters and explained that the idea came as the two bowlers walked off the field after Pakistan were bowled out. "Josh said it and I said we actually should do that, it would be quite cool," Robinson said. "You don't really have too many halves of a cricket ball, so it would be something that we never forget." England team manager Wayne Bentley then took the ball to the groundstaff, who cut it in half and returned it within five minutes. TWO FIVE-FORS, ONE BALL The split ball followed an excellent day for England's pace attack. Robinson struck with the first delivery of the Test to remove Azan Awais and soon added Shan Masood, while Tongue later worked through Pakistan's middle and lower order. Pakistan lost their final eight wickets for 74 runs and were bowled out inside 49 overs. Robinson and Tongue became only the second England pair in 20 years to take five wickets apiece in the same Test innings. Their figures also helped Joe Root make a strong start to his second stint as England Test captain. England reached 112/2 by stumps, leaving them 59 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings score. ROBINSON CONTINUES COMEBACK The five-wicket haul was Robinson's fifth in Test cricket and continued an encouraging return after more than two years away from the England side. The 32-year-old was recalled earlier this summer and took seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord's, including another five-for. He now has 88 Test wickets at an average of 21.25. Robinson also spoke about the importance of staying fit after a period in which his availability had been questioned. "At the moment I probably feel as good as I've ever felt," he said. "I'm probably not in as good a rhythm as I would like." The performance also came during a significant week for Robinson, who recently welcomed his daughter Eva with his wife Mia. He said the family milestone made the five-wicket haul particularly meaningful. England's dominant bowling display came on the opening day of Joe Root's return as Test captain. After Pakistan were bowled out for 171, Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay fell in England's reply, but Root and Jordan Cox steadied the innings to take the hosts to 112/2 at stumps, leaving them 59 runs behind.