English fast bowlers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue produced a rare shared five-wicket haul on the opening day of the Leeds Test against Pakistan on Wednesday, then decided to split the match ball in half as a memento of their achievement.
The pair bowled Pakistan out for 171 after Joe Root chose to bowl first on the opening morning of his second stint as England captain.
Robinson struck with the very first ball of the match, the first time that has happened in a Test in England in almost 20 years. He went on to remove four of the top five batters. Tongue then cleaned up the tail to finish with five wickets of his own.
The feat marked the 16th time two England bowlers have taken five wickets in the same Test innings, and the first instance since 2006, when Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar shared the feat against Pakistan at Old Trafford.
As they walked off the field together, Robinson suggested to Tongue that they cut the ball in half so each could keep a piece. England’s team management sent the request to the Headingley groundstaff, who split the ball down the middle so both bowlers could keep a share of it.
Robinson returned to the side after missing the two Tests against New Zealand through injury. He arrived in Leeds having welcomed his second daughter, Eva, who was born last Thursday.
He had also been working closely with England’s medical staff over the previous five to six weeks to build up his fitness after a training injury ruled him out of the Oval Test and a subsequent non-selection at Trent Bridge despite being available.
England are currently 112/2, trailing by 59 runs in their first innings.
