Determined Stone targets Test return with England
Olly stone admitted a burning ambition to resume his Test career and get a first taste of Ashes cricket next year is why he has not yet turned exclusively to the shorter formats.
The England fast bowler has had multiple injury issues and the latest of four stress fractures in his back prompted an operation last year to fit a metal screw designed to strengthen his spine.
His luckless run continued when he broke a finger in July and had to go under the knife again, but the 29-year-old still feels he can add to his three Test caps, the most recent of which was in June 2021.
Building himself back up in white-ball cricket was always the aim but he has discussed a Test return with England captain Ben Stokes and hopes to be selected for the trip to New Zealand in February.
"I've spoken to Stokesy and just said how I want to still play Test cricket, I've still got that hunger," Stones said.
"One of the main reasons why I went down the surgical route with my back was to be able to hopefully withstand that amount of cricket and demand on my body.
"After Christmas there's a combination of white-ball cricket and franchise cricket that hopefully I can keep my loads up and get me in a place that I can put my hand up and be selectable for Test cricket.
"I'm not quite sure where yet, hopefully I can be involved in the New Zealand stuff then go from there.
“For me now is getting some good run of cricket under my belt and see what goes from there."