PEARS pace ace Josh Tongue is ready to kick start his season after he completed the best match bowling analysis of his career in the 32-run defeat to Essex.
A five-wicket second-innings haul on day three of the clash at New Road meant he recorded match figures of 9-98.
Tongue admits he has so far struggled to find his rhythm after an ankle operation in February and a shortage of match cricket under his belt with the pre-season programme ruined by the weather.
But he felt back to his best against the Division One champions and a three-wicket burst in three overs after lunch on day one accounted for Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara to put Worcestershire in the driving seat.
Tongue, part of the ECB Pace Programme and England Lions camp in Australia this winter, ended the first innings with figures of 4-45 and followed up with 5-53 in the second and posed a constant threat.
“It was good for me personally to get a few wickets because I feel so far this year that I haven’t got my rhythm,” said the 20-year-old Redditch-born player.
“It has gone OK, it could have been better, but this game I feel like I’ve nailed it and, from today, it is going to kick start my season.
“I just tried to hit the pitch hard and hopefully the ball did enough to get a nick off the batsman.
“There is a bit of bounce, especially at New Road. You don’t normally see much of that bounce and it is nice to see that as a bowler and have the nicks carry.
“I think it was just about having confidence in my ankle and knowing it is not going to hurt really and getting confidence back into myself.
“I had the Lions trip but ever since that I hadn’t been able to get much bowling in but now I’ve got more overs into my legs and am getting more confident. Hopefully I will get more wickets.
“To get 47 wickets last season was quite a lot for a youngster, especially in the first season and now I’m playing in Division One and the players are a lot better.
“I’ll just try to do what I normally do – hit a line and length and get my rhythm.”