ENG vs PAK, 1st Test: Robinson, Tongue Split Pakistan And ‘Match Ball’ In Half After Day 1 Heroics

Day 1 (August 19) of the England vs Pakistan first Test in Headingley, Leeds, saw host pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue dismantle the visitors with precision. Both pacers took five wickets each as Pakistan were bowled out for 171 in the first innings. While two bowlers taking a five-wicket haul in the same Test innings is a rare occurrence, what happened afterward was even more unique. Traditionally, the bowler who takes a five-wicket haul keeps the match ball as a memento, but this time the ball was cut into half so both Robinson and Tongue could take a piece each to mark the occasion.

Robinson, Tongue Share Ball After Five-Wicket Haul vs Pakistan

Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair to take five wickets each in the same innings of a Test since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar did so in 2006, also against Pakistan, in Manchester. After the match, the ground staff split the ball into two exact halves, ensuring both bowlers got to keep a piece of history with them.

“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.”

“Josh said it and I said: ‘We actually should do that, it would be quite cool.’ You don’t really have too many halves of a cricket ball, so it would be something that we never forget,” Robinson added.

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“Wayne Bentley, the team manager, took it down to the groundstaff. I said: ‘Do you reckon they will be able to do it?’ Within five minutes he brought it back up and it was done. It’s really nice,” Robinson added.

England In Driver’s Seat Of Opening Test

Robinson (5/51) and Tongue (5/46) helped England bowl Pakistan out cheaply despite Imam-ul-Haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique (61) adding 91 runs for the third wicket. In reply, England openers Ben Duckett (15) and Emilio Gay (33) added 36 runs for the first wicket before both were back in the dressing room, with the score on 48 runs. Jordan Cox (23 not out) and skipper Joe Root (37 not out) were at the crease at the close of play, with England on 112/2, 59 runs behind Pakistan’s first innings total.