Tongue says Root’s message has '100%' landed after squad meeting ahead of Lord's Test

England fast bowler Josh Tongue said Joe Root's message about off-field behaviour has "100%" landed after the captain addressed the squad before training ahead of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's, beginning on Thursday. Tongue added: "As soon as that chat was finished, our focus was fully on these next five days."

Root said he was "hacked off" that Brydon Carse had become the latest England player involved in a late-night drinking controversy, and told players in the pre-training talk what it is like to be an England cricketer. Carse, 31, was briefly arrested while on a night out in Derby on Saturday and footage of him in handcuffs appeared on social media on Sunday; he was later de-arrested but the England and Wales Cricket Board referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator, and the Regulator's investigation has resulted in Carse's absence from the squad for Lord's. Root had urged his players last week to be "really good role models and good human beings" and this week said he was frustrated at "stupid mistakes."

Tongue, who has taken 65 wickets in 13 Tests for England, described Root's intervention as necessary and direct, saying: "It was a chat that was needed, a very good chat from Rooty." He added that Root "was very clear on the message of what it is like to be an England cricketer. We're very privileged to put on that England shirt and we want to show kids growing up how good it is to play for England in front of thousands of people."

The Nottinghamshire seamer is one of eight England centrally contracted players who have been involved in or present for a late-night drinking incident since last October. Tongue was with Harry Brook when Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington; the Regulator took no action against Tongue for that episode, but he said the episode forced him to reflect on the fragility of an England career and that "I want to play for England for as long as I can." He added: "I've tried to forget about that as much as I can and focus on the cricket here, now."

Tongue played in a four-pronged pace attack that helped England to an innings victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley, and a win at Lord's would give the hosts their first series victory in a multi-match series since 2024. Reports suggest England are likely to name an unchanged XI for the second Test, the first time they would have gone unchanged between matches since the first and second Tests at home to India last summer.

England remain under interim head coach Marcus Trescothick, with Stephen Fleming due to take charge from the tour of South Africa in December; Root confirmed in Leeds that he has been in daily contact with Fleming. Tongue said: "He messaged me the day before the Test, touching on The Hundred and congratulating me on that, and saying good luck for the first Test," and added: "Then he messaged me after the first day as well, which was very nice. Obviously, he wants to have a look at everyone before coming in for the South Africa series. It's nice to know that he's been watching."

The second Test against Pakistan begins at Lord's on Thursday, with Brydon Carse absent from the England squad for the match.