A family friend of Josh Tongue said his performance against Australia was a "dream come true".
Friends and family of bowler Josh Tongue said his performance for England against Australia was a "dream come true".
The former Redditch, Bromyard and Worcestershire cricketer took seven wickets in the fourth Ashes test at the MCG, England's first test win down under in nearly 15 years.
The player will finish 2025 as the first England bowler to be named player of the match in an Ashes test in Australia since 1998, when Tongue was just a baby himself.
Tim Piper, the landlord of The Cricketers Arms in Redditch, went to Australia to watch with the bowler's dad Phil Tongue and told BBC Hereford & Worcester even the home fans "couldn't believe what they were seeing".
He said: "It was fantastic, wasn't it? Three wickets in his first spell, he bowled Steve Smith, who seems to be his bunny now at the moment.
"I think he's knocked him over four and five times every time he's played against him.
"He was bowling wonderfully and I was lucky enough to be there with Phil."
Mr Piper added: "I was sat with some Australian friends who couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"It was wonderful, the Barmy Army were getting behind him and he ended up getting the five wickets, which Dean Headley was the last time, he played for Worcestershire too."
In 2009 the pub landlord bet £100 that Tongue would get an England call-up and won £50,000 when it materialised.
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Category: General Sports
