Stone ready to come in from the cold
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OLLY Stone is eyeing up another chance to “bash down the door” of England’s one-day team after waiting more than two years since his last appearance.
The paceman’s career was riding a steep upward trajectory in the winter of 2018 when he opened his international account with a memorable dismissal of Sri
Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella in Dambulla courtesy of a steepling bouncer.
But injury problems have halted his progress, with a pair of stress fractures, a side strain and a niggling hamstring restricting him to a solitary cap a successful Test debut against Ireland in the intervening period.
The 27-year-old Warwickshire quick is back in the hunt now, though, winning a place on England’s tour of South Africa with a strong showing in the Vitality Blast. He bowled an encouraging spell in the opening warm-up match between Team Morgan and Team Buttler, getting through six overs at a brisk pace and claiming a caught and bowled to see off Tom Curran. Stone has not been selected for the three-match Twenty20 series against the Proteas but is in contention for the subsequent ODI leg and is eager to impress when the squad goes head-to-head again in Paarl this evening in a T20.
“I’d never just wait for an opportunity. I want to go out there and keep trying to bash that door down and go out there to impress,” he said.
“I go out there and try to give my all, showcase what I can do and if the captain and coach like the look of it, that’s great. If not I’ll keep working hard to get my opportunity.
“I think the competitive nature in us all came out in that first warm-up. You all want to impress and there was a bit of banter flying around out there. It was a good laugh but it was taken seriously and with a competitive edge.
“It is a bit different to what you’re used to normally, coming out and playing a touring side, but the effort from the boys, the skill level and the competition between us can only help us prepare for what’s to come.”