Having not been part of the England Test set-up due to injury concerns, England speedster Olly Stone understands that he might not be the first name on the team sheet for the Ashes, but he is determined to push his case.
Stone, who has taken 17 Test wickets for England, last played in September last year at The Oval, when Sri Lanka won the Test by eight wickets. Although he made his Test debut in 2019 against Ireland, he has been unable to cement his place in the side due to persistent injury issues.
Injuries have been a recurring obstacle throughout his career, often forcing lengthy spells on the sidelines. Earlier this year, he underwent a fifth surgery, which ruled him out of the entire home summer.
England’s recent red-ball series against India marked their last Test assignment before the Ashes. Although that series is now behind them, the race for Ashes selection remains wide open, and Stone is eager to make his case.
“I might not be first on the team sheet, but I’ve not given up,” an optimistic Stone told Wisden. “You see in sport how a couple of incidents can happen and suddenly you’re back in the mix. I’m realistic that I’m not involved at the moment, I might not be the first on the team sheet, but I try not to let that worry me. I just go out and perform. If they feel I deserve a seat on that plane, my phone will ring. If not, I’ll keep playing and enjoying cricket.”
England’s pace battery for the Ashes is likely to include Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Brydon Carse, with Josh Tongue also in strong contention. However, given the injury records of several of those bowlers, Stone’s ability to consistently bowl at high pace could keep him in the reckoning.
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