Worcestershire Cricket Chairman Paul Pridgeon was delighted to watch pace bowler Josh Tongue’s “fairytale” return in the Rapids Royal London Cup victory over Essex.

After 14 months out of action with a shoulder problem, Tongue bowled eight overs in two spells and picked up two key wickets in the victory.

Pridgeon said it was like having “a new signing” after Tongue had undergone two operations and admitted there were concerns at one stage as to whether he would recover.

He said: "From a personal point of view, I’m delighted for Josh Tongue that he is back and playing because he has been through a really tough time for two years with injury.

"At one stage, it was looking fairly precarious whether he would play again.

"If you are out for that long, and it is career-threatening, it must be a concern. It is just brilliant that he is back.

"He’s been through two lots of surgery, and he is now seeing a different consultant; he is going down a different route and appears to have cured the problem.

"It is almost like having a new signing, having Josh back."

Tongue played two games for Birmingham League Division Two side Barnards Green but has also been bowling impressively in the nets.

"The lads have been saying that he has been bowling really quickly in the nets and haven’t enjoyed facing him one iota," added Pridgeon.

"He has been hitting the bat high and been making them jump around.

"But they are absolutely over the moon to have him back, and they are over the moon for him.

"Josh is totally different to the other bowlers, gets that little bit more bounce, and has just got a yard more pace than most. It’s just great to have him back. A bit of a fairytale story really.

"Let’s not run before he can walk. If he can get through Tuesday as well, then hopefully he puts himself in contention for the Championship games."