Stone refuses to give up on Test and World Cup hopes despite snub

Olly Stone is still working out his place in England’s pace pecking order as he balances hopes of a Test debut in the West Indies over the next month with the trickier prospect of forcing his way back into World Cup contention.

Stone was handed his first senior call-up for the tour of Sri Lanka before Christmas, playing four oneday internationals before settling in for a watching brief as the Test side wrapped up a 3-0 series whitewash.

Missing out on spin-friendly pitches in Galle, Kandy and Colombo may not have been the worst thing for the 25-year-old but, having been overlooked for the ODIS in the Caribbean, a maiden outing in England whites is a priority if he is to continue his upward trajectory.

Stone has been identified as one of the players who might add venom to England’s seam arsenal, but with James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran also involved, he must first earn his spot.

He said: “I’d love to have played in Sri Lanka, obviously, but the team did so well and to win the series 3-0 means the sides they went in with were the right ones.

“I got my first one-day shirt signed by the lads as something to remember. A Test shirt to go next to it would be amazing.”

There was some surprise when Stone was retained for the longer format in the West Indies and left out of the 50-over games. The next time England name a squad it will be their World Cup 15 and although that renders Stone a firm outsider, he holds out hope.

“The boys have done so well over the last year and a half that they have earned the right to be in,” he added. “All it takes is someone to get injured or something and you’re straight in there, you never know. I wouldn’t say my chance is gone.”