Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE FIRST ODI, DAMBULLA WELCOME TO THE STONE AGE
England to unleash birthday boy Olly, the paceman dubbed a Ferrari, who could make the World Cup thanks to a scheduling mix-up
ENGLAND plan to unleash the pace of birthday boy Olly Stone on Sri Lanka today.
Dubbed a ‘Ferrari’ by his Warwickshire boss Ashley Giles, Stone turned 25 yesterday and is set to complete a remarkable rise to the top of the English white-ball game thanks to a scheduling mix-up that could see him make it all the way to the World Cup.
If the Sri Lanka tour organisers had not swapped the one-day and Test legs around it would most likely be Liam Plunkett continuing his fine ODI for England.
Instead, Plunkett is missing three games to get married and Stone looks like he will be given the chance to show what his express pace can bring to the world’s No.1 one-day side on the subcontinent.
Stone has had injury problems, and suffered a torn cruciate ligament and cartilage in his right knee caused by celebrating taking Moeen Ali’s wicket for Northamptonshire in 2016.
“Olly was hitting the gloves hard,” admitted vice-captain and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler after his one warm-up game.
“I thought he was impressive. The guys facing him in the nets yesterday said it wasn’t that enjoyable.
“He has obviously had a great season and come back really well from that injury. Liam Plunkett has had a fantastic time for us and taken a lot of wickets, and they perform a pretty similar role – big, tall guy with a lot of pace. I think he is a really exciting prospect.”
He has stayed fit enough since returning for Warwickshire to show what his genuine pace – clocked at over 94 miles per hour – can add to an attack.
“I just try to run in and bowl as quick as I can all the time, which can be my downfall,” said Stone.
“But I guess it’s what got me here ODIS away to Sri Lanka
Defeats
Wins
Series win, in 2007
Highest innings total Lowest innings total Highest score conceded Best score (Moeen Ali)
Most fifties (Joe Root)
Most wickets (Chris Woakes) Best figures (Chris Woakes) and it is something I don’t want to go away from. I will go out there and give it my all.”
With Mark Wood and Stone offering a potent pace combination, England also have the spin materials to follow them up to great effect with Adil Rashid and Moeen forming a sensational partnership in one-day cricket.
They have taken a remarkable 163 wickets between them since the last World Cup, the best spin output of any of the original 10 Test playing nations – and it has rubbed off on their batsmen too. Buttler added: “I think Moeen and Adil have been fantastic.
“They have some brilliant variations, they work really well as a pair, spend all day together and then bowl together, working really well in the middle.
“They have been great for us, they have taken a lot of wickets.
“And for us as batsmen facing them in the nets, it is a great learning ground, really good practice.”