England bowlers cut Headingley match ball in half after shared milestone

Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson found an unusual way to share the souvenir from a landmark day at Headingley: England’s two seamers had the match ball cut into halves after each claimed five wickets in Pakistan’s first innings. BBC Sport reported that the groundstaff carried out the request following the opening day of the first Test.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg2NdqpWq-k

Tongue took 5-46 and Robinson returned 5-51 as Pakistan were dismissed for 171 after England won the toss. The home side then reached 112-2 by the close in Leeds, putting Joe Root’s team in a strong position at the end of the first day of his second spell as Test captain.

The paired five-wicket hauls created a practical question over who should keep the ball. According to the BBC, Tongue and Robinson discussed splitting it while walking from the field, and England team manager Wayne Bentley took it to the groundstaff. Robinson said the altered ball was returned within minutes, leaving each bowler with half of the keepsake.

Their achievement carried historical weight beyond the novelty of the souvenir. Tongue and Robinson became the first England bowling pair to take five wickets apiece in the same Test innings for 20 years. The previous England duo to do so were Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2006.

The performance also continued Robinson’s productive return to Test cricket. He had been recalled against New Zealand at Lord’s earlier in the summer after more than two years outside the England Test side amid fitness concerns. Robinson took seven wickets in that match, including a five-wicket haul, and Wednesday’s figures gave him a fifth Test five-for.

BBC Sport reported that Robinson now has 88 Test wickets at an average of 21.25. Tongue and Robinson led England from the field together after completing Pakistan’s dismissal, then ensured neither had to surrender the ball associated with the milestone. The two halves now record a rare shared bowling feat from a day on which all 10 wickets fell to the same pace partnership.