Tongue, Robinson each take fifers vs Pakistan, split the ball at Headingley
Synopsis
Two England pacers, Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson, each took a five-wicket haul in the same innings against Pakistan at Headingley — a feat not seen in English Test cricket since 2006. Their solution to the age-old 'who keeps the ball' dilemma? Cut it straight down the middle.
Key Takeaways
Josh Tongue (5-46) and Ollie Robinson (5-51) each took five-wicket hauls in the same innings at Headingley on 20 August .
It was the first time since 2006 that two England bowlers claimed fifers in the same Test innings.
The pair had the match ball cut in half by groundstaff, with team manager Wayne Bentley facilitating the split.
Pakistan were bowled out for 171 after being asked to bat first.
England reached 112 for 2 at stumps, trailing by 59 runs ; Joe Root (37*) and Jordan Cox (23*) unbeaten in a 64-run stand.
Robinson also welcomed his second daughter, Eva , the previous week.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each claimed five-wicket hauls in the same innings on 20 August at Headingley, Leeds, as England bowled Pakistan out for 171 — and then came up with a memorable way to share the match ball: they cut it in half. It was the first time since 2006 that two England bowlers had each taken a five-for in the same Test innings.
The Fifers That Ended Pakistan's Innings
Tongue finished with figures of 5 for 46 and Robinson with 5 for 51, bundling Pakistan out for 171 after the visitors were asked to bat first. The hauls were the fourth and fifth five-wicket hauls respectively in Test cricket for each bowler, marking a landmark afternoon for both pacers.
The Half-Ball Idea: How It Happened
'We were walking off and I was like, to Tonguey, I think we should split it,' Robinson said at the post-stumps press conference. 'He said it, and I said, I think we should do that, it'd be quite cool. It's one of those things; you don't have too many half-cricket-balls, so it would be something we never forget. It's not very often two guys get five-for in the same innings, so a nice gesture and something to remember.'
The pair walked off the field at Headingley hand in hand, and team manager Wayne Bentley took the ball down to the groundstaff to have it cut. 'I said: Do you reckon they will be able to do it? Within five minutes he brought it back up and it was done. It's really nice,' Robinson added.
England's Reply: Root and Cox Steady the Ship
In response, England reached 112 for 2 at stumps, trailing Pakistan by 59 runs in the first innings. Openers Ben Duckett (15) and Emilio Gay (33) provided early resistance before Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali removed the opening pair in successive overs.
Captain Joe Root (37 not out) and Jordan Cox (23 not out) then combined for an unbeaten 64-run third-wicket stand to stabilise the innings heading into the next day's play.
Robinson's Personal Milestone Off the Field
The fifer carried extra meaning for Robinson, who welcomed his second daughter, Eva, just the previous week. 'Newborn arrived last Thursday at 2am, so been catching up on my sleep since I got to the hotel in Leeds,' he said.
'Really special week, having another baby, it almost makes today even sweeter, when you leave them after they're born and you come and put a performance in, it meant a lot to do that. I know they're not here, they're at home, but I was thinking of them the whole time,' Robinson added. The combination of a personal milestone and a historic bowling performance made the day one Robinson is unlikely to forget.
Point of View
But the more significant story is structural: England now have multiple frontline seamers capable of dismantling a batting lineup independently. Pakistan's collapse to 171 on a Headingley surface that rarely offers this much assistance also raises questions about their batting fragility against quality swing bowling, a recurring vulnerability in overseas conditions.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did two England bowlers take five-wicket hauls in the same innings against Pakistan?
Yes. Josh Tongue (5-46) and Ollie Robinson (5-51) both claimed five-wicket hauls in Pakistan's first innings at Headingley on 20 August. It was the first time since 2006 that two England bowlers achieved this in the same Test innings.
Why did Robinson and Tongue cut the cricket ball in half?
Traditionally, the bowler who takes a five-wicket haul keeps the match ball as a memento. Since both Robinson and Tongue each took a fifer in the same innings, they agreed to have the ball cut in half so each could keep a piece. Team manager Wayne Bentley arranged for groundstaff to do it within minutes.
What score did Pakistan finish on in their first innings?
Pakistan were bowled out for 171 after being asked to bat first at Headingley. Robinson and Tongue shared all 10 wickets between them.
How did England's first innings reply go?
England reached 112 for 2 at stumps, trailing Pakistan by 59 runs. Joe Root (37 not out) and Jordan Cox (23 not out) were unbeaten in a 64-run third-wicket stand after openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed by Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali.
What personal news did Ollie Robinson share after his five-wicket haul?
Robinson revealed that his second daughter, Eva, was born the previous Thursday at 2am. He said the fifer felt especially meaningful given he had left his newborn at home to play in the Test match.
