England’s decision to call up Olly Stone after Dillon Pennington’s hamstring injury underscores their commitment to the value of high pace in Test cricket. Despite Essex's Sam Cook being the standout seamer in the County Championship over recent seasons, Stone's ability to consistently bowl at speeds of 90mph/145kph earned him a place in England's 14-man squad.
Although Cook has played only six of Essex's nine Championship games this season due to a minor hamstring injury, he has taken 29 wickets at an impressive average of 13.62. Cook has since recovered and even secured a victory for Trent Rockets in the Hundred. In contrast, Stone has taken just 10 wickets at an average of 47 for Nottinghamshire, yet he finds himself in contention for selection against Sri Lanka.
England previously paired Gus Atkinson with Mark Wood during their 3-0 sweep against the West Indies, a strategy that proved successful. Atkinson ended his debut Test series with 22 wickets at an average of 16.22 across three Tests, while Wood contributed nine wickets at 20, despite a challenging match at Trent Bridge. With the long-term goal of the 2025-26 Ashes in mind, England aims to include two genuine fast bowlers in any given team. Captain Ben Stokes explained this week that they chose Stone as a "like-for-like" replacement for Pennington, expressing excitement to see him back in action after overcoming injury issues.
For Stone, this season's most significant statistic isn’t his wicket tally but rather the number of overs he’s managed to bowl following three injury-plagued years. He has delivered 132.2 overs in the Championship, 44 in the T20 Blast—where he was a regular for Nottinghamshire—and another 80 balls in the Hundred, taking four wickets for London Spirit.
"It's been brilliant," Stone told ESPNcricinfo this week. He admitted to having endured a difficult time with injuries, and expressed his determination to enjoy playing for Nottinghamshire again. Stone was hopeful that a call from England would come, and he is now thrilled to be back in the fold, focused on playing and building a series of games together.
Despite being limited to three Tests due to injuries, Stone has performed admirably, taking 10 wickets at an average of 19.40. England has kept him on their radar, and the upcoming Sri Lanka series will be his second experience under the leadership of Stokes and Brendon McCullum, following a tour to New Zealand in early 2022.
While Stone didn’t play in that series, he felt encouraged by the management’s emphasis on aggressive cricket. They advised him to continue playing his natural game and reassured him that selection was based on his style of play, not just statistics. Stone explained that it was refreshing to hear that he didn’t need to take 50 wickets at a low average to earn a spot in the team; instead, his aggressive style and enjoyment of the game would keep him in contention.
This season, Stone has carefully managed his approach in four-day games, aware of his fitness history. At nearly 31 years old, with only 51 first-class matches under his belt, he’s keen to strike a balance between pushing his pace and staying healthy. He feels his bowling has been better than the numbers suggest, noting that his pace remains his primary weapon.
Given Stone's injury record, he’s cautious about looking too far ahead, but England would undoubtedly be pleased to have him fit and ready when they select their Ashes squad next summer. He was initially part of the 2019 Ashes squad but had to withdraw due to a back stress fracture. Stone said that while it would be great to receive that call again, he’s taking things one game at a time.
Stone’s batting has also been noteworthy this season, with three half-centuries in his seven Championship innings, including a career-best 90. If he can consistently contribute with the bat, it would significantly enhance his chances of securing a regular spot in the team.