BOWLING STONE!

Olly gets the gig

ENGLAND hope to stop Sri Lanka stone dead in their tracks by unleashing the pace of Olly Stone today.

Stone, who turned 25 yesterday, is set to complete a remarkable rise to the top of the English white-ball game by making his international debut in the first ODI.

And the fast bowler has a scheduling mix-up to thank for his chance – one that could yet see him make it all the way to the World Cup. from DEAN WILSON

If the Sri Lanka tour organisers in Dambulla

hadn’t swapped the one-day and

Test series around it would most Warwickshire to show what his likely be Liam Plunkett taking genuine pace, clocked at more his England place in Dambulla. than 94mph, can add to an attack. But instead Plunkett (below) is With Mark Wood and Stone missing three games as he’s offering a potent pace threat, getting married. England have the spinners to back them up to great effect, with Adil Rashid and Moeen forming a fine partnership in this format. They have taken a remarkable

163 wickets between them since the last World Cup. Buttler said: “I think Moeen and Adil have been fantastic. They’ve brilliant variations, they work really well as a pair, spend all day together and then bowl together. “They’ve been great for us. They’ve taken a lot of wickets and for us as batsmen facing them in the nets, it is a great learning ground, really good practise.” Eoin Morgan’s England are favourites against a Sri Lanka side that has lost 30 of the last

40 ODIs and axed former skipper Angelo Mathews last month.

Buttler added: “We’re very aware of Sri Lanka’s qualities. “They have got some experienced players who play well in these conditions.

“It has been tricky in the past for English sides to come here.”

Impressive

Now Stone looks like he will be given the chance to show what his express pace can bring to the

No.1 limited-overs side in the world on the subcontinent.

After he caught the eye in his one warm-up game appearance, vice-captain Jos Buttler said: “Olly was hitting the gloves hard. He was impressive.

“The guys facing him in the nets yesterday said it wasn’t that enjoyable.

“He’s had a great season and come back well from injury.

“Both Olly and Liam perform a pretty similar role – big, tall guy with a lot of pace. I think he is an exciting prospect.”

Stone has had some injury issues and suffered a serious knee problem while celebrating the wicket of Moeen Ali for Northants in

2016.

But he has stayed fit enough since returning for