Stoneman ready for dream finish at Sydney

MARK Stoneman has the chance to live out a dream which took hold more than a decade ago on his first visit to the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch England in the Ashes.

Back then, he was still a teenager yet to make his professional debut and testing the water in grade cricket.

England were on their way to a 5-0 whitewash defeat, but Stoneman did not let that stop him lapping up the “top-dollar” atmosphere and daring to dream he could one day be a part of it for real out in the middle.

That day is about to dawn for the opener as England try to stave off a 4-0 defeat this time in the fifth and final Test, starting tonight.

In the intervening years, Stoneman returned several times to Sydney for stints with Bankstown and other clubs, met his wife Serene and made many friends here - before more recently upping sticks from Durham and heading to Surrey to further a career which has brought him his first seven Test caps over the past five months.

Casting his mind back to January 2007, when Andrew Flintoff’s tourists were about to lose one more time, he said: “It was incredible.

“The Barmy Army were in full voice, and Brett Lee was steaming.

“I was thinking how good it would be to be out there.”

Stoneman has had something of a ‘nearly’ tour this winter, by his own admission – with two 50s and an average just under 30 – but how fitting it would be if he has saved his best for last back at the SCG.

“As much you try to compartmentalise and take each game as it comes... it was always going to be the icing of the tour on a personal note, to come back to Sydney, where I’ve spent a lot of time,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of friends and family, and it’s something I’m very much looking forward to.”

England appear set to hand a Test debut to novice leg-spinner Mason Crane in Sydney.

The Hampshire youngster looks set to replace all-rounder Moeen Ali, who has had a poor tour.