Olly Stone will return to England from the Pakistan tour on Wednesday to prepare for his wedding this weekend, making it unlikely he will participate in the second Test. After taking seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka, his first appearances in three years, Stone was not selected for the first Test in Multan, which began on Monday. This allowed him to fly home earlier than originally planned.
The timing of Stone’s return remains uncertain and will depend on the status of England’s fast bowlers following the first Test. Given the tight schedule between his wedding on Saturday and the second Test on Tuesday, his participation seems improbable. The pace attack for the first Test consists of Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, and Chris Woakes, with Matthew Potts as the other fast bowler in the squad.
England’s management supports Stone’s decision to leave, particularly because they did not include him in the latest central contracts. He scheduled the wedding well in advance of his recall to the team. Stone consulted with Rob Key and Brendon McCullum before the tour, and they agreed on his need to prioritize the wedding.
Stone explained that he initially booked the wedding while only playing for Nottinghamshire. He appreciated his fiancée Jess’s willingness to change the date, but he wanted to keep it as planned, recognizing her sacrifices for him. His teammates, including Joe Root, expressed their support, emphasizing that this is a significant moment in Stone’s life, and they look forward to celebrating with him soon.
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