It’s great to get another Bear on board – Chris
CHRIS Woakes is confident Olly Stone will “take really well to international cricket” as the all-rounder welcomes his Warwickshire team-mate into the England fold in Sri Lanka.
The two Bears are in the squad for a tour which begins with two 50-over friendlies against Colombo on Friday and Saturday, ahead of five ODIs and three Tests.
Woakes has been at the heart of the England set-up for some time so his experience and counsel is sure to benefit 24-year-old Stone as he prepares to challenge for his ODI and Test debuts.
Stone has travelled with confidence high after a superb season for Warwickshire, which brought him 43 championship wickets in seven games at a remarkable 12.21 runs apiece.
Stone has serious pace and will be a potent force at the top level, reckons Woakes, even in Sri Lanka where the pitches do the pacemen few favours.
“It’s great to have to another Bear onboard out here,” he said. “Olly has bowled brilliantly this year and fully deserves his call-up. England have been looking for a bowler with that little bit of extra pace and Olly has that.
“He is also a top lad with a good head on his shoulders, so I’m sure he will take really well to international cricket.
“It can be hard going for the quicker bowlers in Sri Lanka, though the pitches for the ODIs last time out here were not too bad for seamers. There wasn’t much sideways movement but they had good carry so were decent to bowl on. Hopefully that will be the same again, though I’m guessing the Test pitches will be hard work!”
While Stone aspires es to make his England debuts, 29-year-old Woakes is hoping to add to his tally of 26 Tests and 76 ODIs.
“I’ve been really looking forward to Sri Lanka,” he said.
“It’s a testing tour in the conditions and will be hot, humid and sweaty, but that’s the sort of challenge you want.’’