England pacer Olly Stone has been ruled out of action for 14 weeks following surgery on his right knee. This injury comes as a significant setback for England, as Stone will now miss the entire summer Test schedule, including the one-off match against Zimbabwe and the high-profile five-Test series against India.
Stone experienced knee discomfort during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour in Abu Dhabi. Scans confirmed the seriousness of the injury, necessitating surgery. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed his unavailability on Friday, stating he will undergo a rehabilitation program with assistance from Nottinghamshire and ECB’s medical teams.
The 31-year-old speedster had hoped to return to red-ball cricket this April, following his last appearance for England in an ODI against Australia. He had even taken part in the ILT20 earlier this year for the Dubai Capitals to gain match fitness.
Stone had previously featured in England’s winter Test squads for Pakistan and New Zealand, though he didn’t play in either series. However, he had shown promise during England’s 2023 Test tour of Sri Lanka, picking up seven wickets in two games.
His absence now leaves England without one of their pace options for the crucial summer fixtures. With recovery expected to extend until August 2025, Stone’s hopes of pushing for Ashes selection later this year have taken a hit.
England will now rely on other fast-bowling options like Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse as they look to manage workloads and injuries in a busy Test calendar. Stone will need to make a strong comeback to stake his claim again for a place in the England Test squad ahead of the Ashes tour in Australia early next year.
Leave a Reply