---
title: "Josh Tongue: Joe Root Message Has Landed ‘100%’ At Lord’s"
canonical: "https://readcricket.com/2026/08/27/josh-tongue-joe-root-message-lords-test/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Clarke"
section: "News"
published: "2026-08-27T05:19:08Z"
modified: "2026-08-27T17:11:36Z"
---

# Josh Tongue: Joe Root Message Has Landed ‘100%’ At Lord’s

**Josh Tongue** says **Joe Root**‘s “robust conversation” with the England Test squad has landed “100%” as the second Test against Pakistan begins at Lord’s on Thursday. The fast bowler, who [shared ten wickets on day one at Headingley](https://readcricket.com/2026/08/19/england-pakistan-day-one-robinson-tongue-headingley/), said the captain “made it clear what he expected” after a week in which off-field conduct, rather than cricket, dominated England’s build-up.

## What Josh Tongue said about Joe Root’s message

Root spoke on Tuesday of being [“hacked off” by England’s “stupid mistakes”](https://readcricket.com/2026/08/25/joe-root-hacked-off-england-stupid-mistakes-lords/) and urged his players to “earn back trust”, according to Sky Sports, after Brydon Carse was [dropped from the squad](https://readcricket.com/2026/08/24/brydon-carse-dropped-england-lords-test-sonny-baker/) and Sonny Baker called up. Derbyshire police are now investigating an alleged assault in connection with Carse’s arrest, [the Guardian reports](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/26/derbyshire-police-investigating-alleged-assault-in-connection-with-carse-arrest), adding that it is unclear whether Carse was involved in the alleged incident.

Tongue told reporters the penny had “100%” dropped. “We are very privileged to put on the England shirt,” he said, [per the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/26/josh-tongue-joe-root-robust-conversation-reset-england-cricket-standards), while [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cdj4e277vwxo) reported that the captain’s message on off-field behaviour had been heeded across the dressing room.

## England eye a first series win since 2024

England lead 1-0 after their [Headingley victory](https://readcricket.com/2026/08/21/england-beat-pakistan-first-test-headingley/) and, as Ali Martin writes in the Guardian, have a golden chance to seal a first Test series win since 2024. Babar Azam returns to captain Pakistan after being passed fit following a hand injury, [ESPNcricinfo reports](https://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1551525.html), with Salman Agha having deputised at Headingley. Marcus Trescothick remains interim head coach; the Telegraph reports that Stephen Fleming will not arrive in England until after the series.