Olly debut hopes sunk like a stone
OLLY STONE’S hopes of a Test debut in the West Indies have disappeared after a lower back stress injury ruled him out of the tour.
The fast bowler complained of stiffness in his back on arrival in Barbados following two long-haul flights in three days.
The first was the longest of its kind – from Perth to London after visiting his girlfriend in Australia, where he was training to maintain his fitness for this tour. After the second flight with his team-mates the injury flared up and Stone, right, could bowl for only half an hour on Sunday.
A scan yesterday revealed the problem and, although a stress fracture has not yet been confirmed, England are taking no chances with their quickest bowler.
“I’m gutted for him,” said captain Joe Root. “He’s worked extremely hard to get into this squad and pushed his case really hard in Sri Lanka.
“It is a massive blow for him personally, and for our team as well, but I’m sure we’ll see plenty more him in the future.”
Durham’s Mark Wood and Somerset’s Jamie Overton are possible replacements. But England already boast plenty of firepower, as Stuart Broad proved with four wickets in five balls – including a hat-trick – in their day in the field against the CWI President’s XI.
Broad already had two Test hat-tricks so this effort would not register highly, but it reinforced the lack of batting quality in West Indian cricket.
Left-handed opener John Campbell is set to make his Test debut next Wednesday so the chance to face Broad and James Anderson was not one to waste. Yet his wild swish at Anderson to edge behind in his first innings suggested time in the middle was not so imperative. Sam Curran shared the new ball with Anderson in a sign England might consider his swinging ability for that role in the Test.
“It was a ruthless performance,” said Broad after England took 19 wickets in the day. “I never look at wickets as a particular career aim, but I would love to take three Test match hat-tricks. I don’t think anyone has ever done it so maybe this was just good practice.
“We gave Sam the new ball today as part of his development. There is a different pressure opening the bowling in an England shirt and setting the tone in a Test match.
“So every little bit helps, and if Sam has to do it in the first Test it won’t be the first time he’s done it on the trip.”