A devoted English cricket fan has secured a staggering £100,000 payout after a remarkable act of foresight, having placed a 500-1 bet that a toddler would one day play Test cricket for England.
The Unforgettable First Impression
Tim Piper, a former teammate of Josh Tongue's father Phil at Redditch Cricket Club in the 1990s, recalls the moment he saw the future fast bowler's prodigious talent. The child was just two and a half years old at the time. Piper, speaking on Kayo Sports' Ashes broadcast, described being left speechless as the toddler bowled leg-spinners, off-spinners, and wrong-uns with surprising skill and a knowing laugh.
"I remember looking at this kid and going yeah, I see there's potential," Piper said. "He started bowling leggies and off spinners, wrong-uns, and I was shaking my head thinking what's this little kid doing." The performance was so convincing that Piper immediately tried to place a wager on Tongue eventually representing his country at the highest level.
A Patient Bet Comes Good
Initially, no bookmaker would entertain such a long-shot bet on a small child. However, Piper's persistence paid off years later when Tongue was 11 years old. A bookmaker finally accepted the extraordinary gamble, offering odds of 500-1. Piper promptly staked £100 on the bet slip and began a patient wait of over a decade.
The moment of truth arrived in June 2023, when Josh Tongue earned his Test cap, making his debut for England against Ireland. This triggered the winning bet, allowing an elated Piper to collect his £100,000 windfall. Since his debut, Tongue has become a firm part of the England setup, playing seven Test matches and taking 32 wickets at an average of 31.
From Childhood Promise to Ashes Stage
The story has a fitting contemporary chapter, as Josh Tongue is currently a key member of the England XI contesting the Ashes series against Australia. The series is poised at a crucial juncture, with Australia leading 2-0 and needing only a draw in the upcoming Test to retain the coveted urn.
Tim Piper's story is a testament to an extraordinary eye for talent and the patience to see a prediction through. From a laughing toddler in Worcestershire to the hallowed turf of an Ashes Test, it’s a sporting fairytale that paid off in the most dramatic financial fashion.
