Two five-fors, one match ball: England pacers find unusual way to share souvenir

England pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue found an unusual solution to a rare match-ball dilemma after both claimed five-wicket hauls against Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley.

Pakistan were bowled out for 171 in their first innings, with Robinson and Tongue taking five wickets apiece — a feat that left the England duo facing a question usually reserved for one bowler: who gets to keep the match ball?

The pair decided there was a simple answer — they would share it.

As they walked off the field, Tongue suggested cutting the match ball in half so both could take home a souvenir.

“I said to Tonguey: ‘We should split it,’ and he said: ‘I actually think we should do that. I think it would be quite cool,'” Robinson said.

The idea soon became reality, with Headingley ground staff cutting the ball into two pieces and handing one half to each bowler.

Robinson said having half a cricket ball as a souvenir was something neither bowler would forget.

“You don’t really have too many half cricket balls, so it’ll be something we never forget,” he said.

It was an unusual way to settle an unusual problem, with two England bowlers claiming five-fors in the same innings — a relatively rare occurrence in Test cricket.

“It’s not very often two guys get five-for in the same innings, so it’s just a nice gesture and something to remember,” Robinson said.

England ended the opening day on 112-2 after 25 overs, still trailing Pakistan by 59 runs. Joe Root was unbeaten on 37, while Jordan Cox was 23 not out, with the pair putting together an unbroken 63-run partnership.

England will resume their first innings at 3pm Pakistan time on Thursday, with Root and Cox at the crease as they look to establish a first-innings lead.

— Additional input from Reuters