Josh Tongue’s England Test debut lands £50,000 winner for cricket punter

Tim Piper, a pub landlord, placed a bet with bookmaker Coral in 2009 that the then 11 years old Tongue would one day represent his country at the highest level.

Fourteen years on, he will collect £50,100 from the firm, having placed £100 at odds of 500/1.

“I tried to place the bet when Josh was six years old but the bookies didn't want to know,” said Piper. “But five years later I contacted Coral and they offered me 500/1, which is when I placed the £100 bet.

“I played for Redditch Cricket Club with Josh's dad, Phil, in the 1990s, and could see his talent at an early age. Since then I've been following his career closely.

“He's overcome plenty of injuries, which makes his achievement all the more remarkable, and I'm so proud of him, regardless of the money I've won, and we'll have a proper celebration when he's walked out at Lord's this week.”

“Tim's letter requesting the odds on Josh playing Test cricket actually ended up on my desk back in 2009,” Coral's David Stevens told FreeTips.com.

“And while we have laid plenty of these type of bets over the years, rarely do they have such a happy outcome. 

“I'm delighted to have been there at the start of the dream, and at the conclusion, and look forward to dropping in at Tim's pub for a celebratory pint!”