England drop spinner Moeen, opt for Tongue at Lord's

England have asked Josh Tongue to be their enforcer with the ball at Lord's after calling him in for Moeen Ali and going without a frontline spinner for the second Ashes Test.

England made the shock call on Tuesday to name Tongue in their XI, leaving the world's top-ranked batsman Joe Root as the team's sole spinner come Wednesday.

Tongue was earlier this month likened to Scott Boland by Australian star Marnus Labuschagne, but England want him for his pace rather than his control in London.

With out-and-out quick Mark Wood still on ice until the third Test at Headingley and Jofra Archer out for the series, Tongue is the fastest bowler left in England's squad.

The 25-year-old made his Test debut for England earlier this month against Ireland, taking 5-66 in the second innings at Lord's.

"Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart) Broad will tell you it is useful having something who can bowl 90m/h," captain Ben Stokes said.

"I was particularly impressed in game moments where he played different roles with the ball. 

"His first spell was trying to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. Then we used him with different ways to try and attack the Ireland batters with our short-ball plan."

Stokes said Tongue's selection as a fourth seamer was not indicative of his own knee struggles, adamant he would be able to bowl himself in the Test.

The England captain also stressed there were no ongoing concerns with Ali's finger, after a bad blister limited the spinner to just seven overs on the final day at Edgbaston.

"We turned up here and have seen a lot of grass on the wicket, it is a bit green," Stokes said.

"Traditionally Lord's offers more for seamers.

"Moeen's finger has actually recovered really well, (but) I thought we would get more with four seamers and went with Tongue."

Tongue has already captured Steve Smith's wicket once this season, creating headlines last month when he trapped the right-hander lbw in his first county game ahead of the Ashes.

Labuschagne also faced Tongue early in the county season, before making the comparison to Boland.

“I saw some footage yesterday of him bowling and I thought there was a lot of Scott Boland about his action,” Labuschagne said earlier this month.

“The way he runs in. The angle he creates at the crease.

“He’s a nice bowler. I played against him earlier this year in Cardiff and he was very good.”

Tongue's call up is the only change to England's side after the two-wicket loss at Edgbaston, with Ben Duckett holding onto his spot at the top of the order and Jonny Bairstow retaining the gloves.

England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson.

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