Pub landlord wins £50,000 after placing bet on 11-year-old to play for England

Tim Piper, who is the landlord of the Cricketers Arms pub in Redditch, wagered £100 at odds of 500/1 that an 11-year-old Tongue would go on to a represent England in Test cricket.

While Tongue broke into the Worcestershire side a few years ago, hopes of representing England looked slim as he battled a persistent shoulder injury and even considered retiring last summer.

But the 25-year-old seamer has enjoyed a sensational recovery and made his Test debut against Ireland at Lord’s on Thursday after a late call-up to the squad.

Piper, who was a was a team-mate of Tongue’s father Phil at Redditch Cricket Club in the 1990s, said: ‘A couple of mates phoned me and said I should watch Sky Sports because he’s playing.

‘I always thought they announced it on the day but I saw that he was playing! It’s wonderful.

‘His dad phoned me up last night and Josh nearly retired 12 months ago because of injury. He was touch and go thinking of calling it a day and 12 months later here he is playing for England.

‘Of course I’m not going to play down £50k but it’s just such a wonderful story in itself.

‘When he was younger he started to get better and better, batting with pace and getting better with bowling.

‘I thought it’d be silly not to bet £100 on him at 500/1 and now 14 years later here we are – it’s gone by so fast.’

Tongue, who has taken 11 wickets in the County Championship this season, was presented with England cap No. 711 by James Anderson before the start of the Ireland Test.

He was picked ahead of Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes in a side that also included Jonny Bairstow, who has missed England’s last five Tests with a broken leg.

Anderson and Ollie Robinson are recovering from minor injury problems and have been rested ahead of the Ashes, which starts on June 16.

Explaining Tongue’s inclusion at Lord’s, England head coach Brendon McCullum said: ‘He’s got some real skills, he’s obviously a bit of rough diamond.

‘We think he’s got something a little bit exciting hence we brought him into the squad. He’s another one who looks like he’s got an immense amount of talent.’