Josh Tongue reflects on his eventful summer last year, acknowledging the rapidity of his ascent and the challenges he faced with injuries. These experiences have instilled in the England fast bowler the importance of staying grounded and focusing on the present.

Tongue impressed with a remarkable performance on his Test debut against Ireland at Lord's last June, taking five wickets. He continued to showcase his skills at the same venue, where he managed to dismiss David Warner and Steve Smith in both innings during his solitary Ashes match.

Several pectoral injuries, unrelated to a previous shoulder nerve problem that kept him out of action from June 2021 to August 2022, have hindered his development. As a result, he missed out on making his ODI debut in the Caribbean towards the end of last year and was unable to participate in England's recent Test tour of India.

After surgery in December, Tongue is back bowling in practice ahead of schedule and awaiting approval to compete again after last August.

After making the move from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire during the winter, the 26-year-old is fully focused on making a strong impression at Trent Bridge. Rather than thinking about the upcoming English Test summer, his attention is firmly on his current team.

“I don’t really look into the future at all,” he told the PA news agency. “Last summer, I didn’t think I would have ever played for England and then all of a sudden, I had the phone call and I was selected.”

“It was a crazy summer and it all happened so quickly. It took me a while to let it all sink in. Getting out the world’s top-class batters is an amazing feeling.

“Whatever I do as a bowler is to try and do the best for the team. When I do get back playing, I just want to focus on doing as well as I can for Notts and if England do come knocking then happy days.”

England will undoubtedly watch Tongue closely after giving him a two-year central contract. The opening Test of the season is on July 10 against the West Indies at Lord's.

Tongue is a good fit for England's director of men's cricket, Rob Key, who has said they want bowlers who can regularly operate in the mid-to-high 80mph area. Broad retired last year.

“There’s loads of fast bowlers in the country so there’s a good group of us now who are going to push for a spot,” Tongue said.

“Every team likes having fast bowlers, they’ve got a point of difference, especially when there’s not much going out there and you need someone that bowls 85-90mph to change the game,” he added.

There is a significant void at Nottinghamshire as a result of Broad's departure, but Tongue flat-out denied rumors that he may be permanent successor.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m a different bowler. I go about things differently to what Broady would have done.

“He was an unbelievable bowler and somebody I grew up watching. To share the changing room for England last year was amazing. I haven’t thought about filling his shoes at all, I just want to do the best I can for Notts.”

Along with Tongue, Dillon Pennington, and Jack Haynes all made the journey from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire during the close season.

“I just want to win games for Notts, that’s why I came here,” Tongue added. “I want to win trophies. It’s every cricketer’s aim.”