Olly Stone has been confirmed as the replacement for Mark Wood in England’s XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Stone, who has faced an injury-plagued career, is set to make his Test comeback after three years. He steps in for Wood, who was ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a thigh injury sustained during the first Test.
Stone, 30, is known for his raw pace and will be tasked with replicating Wood’s role as England’s express fast bowler. Despite having only three Test appearances to his name, Stone has been a consistent presence in England’s squads when fit. He expressed excitement about returning to Test cricket and aims to challenge Wood’s speeds, acknowledging the difficulty of matching the 97mph/156kph that Wood reached against West Indies.
The upcoming Test at Lord’s marks a significant milestone for Stone, who debuted in the same venue in 2019 but later underwent back surgery that included the insertion of two screws. Reflecting on his journey, Stone emphasized his love for Test cricket and the determination to continue playing the longest format as long as his body allows.
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This season, Stone has taken 11 wickets in the County Championship for Nottinghamshire, with an average of 52.63. His selection is part of England’s strategy to prioritize pace and variety in their attack. National selector Luke Wright indicated that Stone was chosen to maintain the high-speed threat in Wood’s absence, while Sam Cook, another close contender, may get his opportunity in the future depending on team requirements.
England XI for Second Test vs Sri Lanka:
- Ben Duckett
- Dan Lawrence
- Ollie Pope (capt)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Matthew Potts
- Olly Stone
- Shoaib Bashir
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