Overview
- Tongue, speaking Friday, said a phone chat with Cooley left him confident the coach can help him improve.
- Cooley was appointed in January as England’s national pace-bowling lead after years of short-term specialist hires, bringing experience with Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, plus work with India’s Jasprit Bumrah.
- He missed the first two Ashes Tests then surged with 18 wickets in the last three, taking 23 in four overall at 22.3 and earning player of the match in the Boxing Day win at the MCG.
- Tongue has dismissed Australia’s Steve Smith four times in three matches, a matchup that highlighted his fuller length and pace from a testing angle.
- He said he is focused on starting well for Nottinghamshire even as reports suggest he is in line for England selection this summer.