Tongue tipped to reach the top
Chris Oldnall finds a Worcestershire legend singing the praises of an up-and-coming bowler
Worcestershire legend Norman Gifford tipped teenager Josh Tongue for top honours after another eye-catching bowling display – but it didn’t stop Glamorgan clinching a well deserved nine-wicket win.
Although the 19-year-old paceman troubled the Welsh county for the second time this season by taking a career-best 6-97, his efforts proved in vain with the visitors securing their second successive Championship victory.
“He’s a class act,” said Worcestershire president and former skipper Gifford, who also helps out as a part-time bowling coach at New Road.
The ex-England player, 77, is convinced the Academy product has the potential to scale the heights after spending the winter recuperating following back surgery in September.
Gifford said: “He works together with Matt Mason (bowling coach) and everything that’s asked of him he does well. He’s only 19 and he’s got over his fitness trouble from last year which a lot of bowlers have with his size.
“Some people run in and bowl quick and some people make the ball do things. It’s that which will make him a little bit different.
“I’d have thought looking at him – and looking around the country – he’d be as good a young prospect as there is. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t progress to play at a higher level. He’s got the ability to go a long way.
“He’s not an excitable young lad. He listens and he gets on with it and as we saw in this game he can bat as well. He’s tall, uses his height well and he hits the seam. We just need him to keep learning.”
Worcestershire made 267 in their first innings before Glamorgan turned the match upside down with terrific innings’ from Jacques Rudolph (111), Chris Cooke (93), Andrew Salter (80no) and Lukas Carey (54).
It earned them a first innings lead of 114, which proved far too much for the hosts who were ousted in their second innings for 129.
It left Glamorgan needing just 16 to gain sweet revenge for their eight-wicket defeat against Worcestershire at Cardiff in April when Tongue took 5-45 on his Championship debut.
It also provided them with back-toback Championship wins for the first time for two years.