England to give pace a chance with Stone call-up SRI LANKA ODIs

ENGlAND will turn to raw pace in Sri lanka with the callup of Warwickshire’s Olly Stone for the one- day series starting on October 10.

The 24-year-old Stone is widely regarded as the quickest bowler in county cricket and will also be discussed when the selectors meet on Friday in Nottingham to name their squad for the Test series that follows the white-ball matches.

The decision has been prompted in part because liam Plunkett, who has become England’s oneday enforcer with the ball in the middle overs, will miss the first three games in the five-match 50- over series because he is getting married.

But Stone, who once took 11 wickets in an Under 19 Test in South Africa, also owes his selection to his sheer speed — clocking 92mph in a televised match this summer.

On slow Sri lankan pitches, he will add an extra dimension to an England attack that will also be without the injured David Willey and Jake Ball.

Stone said: ‘It’s a dream come true to get the call-up. I run in and give it my all and I try to hit the stumps. If they miss, I hit.

‘Fast bowling has always been something I’ve done. There have been stages where I’ve been held back a bit with injuries.

‘But I’ve let the handbrake go again. You have to back your body. I’m looking forward to showing what I can do.’

Also in the 16- man squad are the Curran brothers, Tom and Sam, who have played only nine one- day internationals between them.

Tom has made a good impression with the white ball so far, taking five for 35 against Australia at Perth in January, while Sam — whose left-arm angle will help compensate for the absence of Willey — will get the chance to build on his stellar showing in the Test series win over India.

liam Dawson, the Hampshire left-arm spinner who was ignored by England all summer, forms part of a three- pronged spin attack with Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

And there is room for Alex Hales, who along with Ben Stokes was charged this week by the ECB with bringing the game into disrepute following the late-night fracas in Bristol a year ago.

Meanwhile, Jason Roy has emerged as a possible candidate for the Test series in Sri lanka starting in Galle on November 6.

The retirement from international cricket of Alastair Cook and the ongoing struggles of Keaton Jennings have created uncertainty at the top of England’s order, especially with Moeen only three innings into his new role at No 3.

And while Surrey’s Rory Burns has done everything he can to get on the plane, averaging 69 while captaining his side to their first Championship triumph since 2002, his county colleague Roy has already shown he can flourish at international level.

The Test success of Jos Buttler this summer, picked on the back of his form in the Indian Premier league, could also embolden the selectors to go with Roy.

If chosen, he could squeeze out Kent’s Joe Denly. The selectors will also consider the merits of Somerset fast bowler Jamie Overton — twin brother of Craig — who along with Stone offers outand-out pace as his greatest asset.

Spin bowling will play a central role as England look to win their first Test series in Sri lanka since 2000-01, but Trevor Bayliss is also keen to use pace.