STONEMAN IS COOK’S 12TH MAN
Aussie Jacob wrecks Rhinos’ hopes of Leaders Shield
JAMES ROBY believes St Helens cannot afford to get carried away with their recent revival.
Roby said: “We had a great performance against Cas, but it means nothing if we don’t carry it on.
“If, in six or seven weeks down the line we are in the Grand Final, we will go for it.
“I am confident in the ability of this team to go on and win it, but I’m sure every team would say the same.” MARK STONEMAN will become Alastair Cook’s 12th opening partner in five years after England left Keaton Jennings in the Ashes twilight zone.
At 30, Surrey batsman Stoneman has been called up for his debut against the West Indies at Edgbaston next week. Jennings (below), who averaged just 15.87 against South Africa, is now sweating on his place for this winter’s tour of Australia.
Also called up for the first Investec Test is Hampshire’s 20-year-old leg spinner Mason Crane. All-rounder Chris Woakes is recalled after injury. Since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, Cook has opened with Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, Adam Lyth, Moeen Ali, Alex Hales, Ben Duckett, Haseeb Hameed and Jennings. Stoneman (right) gets the nod to partner former skipper Cook after topping 1,000 first-class runs at an average of 58.82 this summer.
England’s three-match series against the Windies starts with the first daynight Test in this country.