Shubhman Gill was defeated, and now this pacer returns after 3 years, 6 foot 7 inch bowler will have to wait
The England team, which is trying to reach its first World Test Championship final, is currently in a bit of trouble. The team's veteran captain Ben Stokes is already out of the series against Sri Lanka due to injury. On top of that, stormy fast bowler Mark Wood, who bowled brilliantly in the first Test match against Sri Lanka, is also out of the remaining 2 matches. In such a situation, England included a 6-foot 7-inch bowler in its squad, but for the second Test match, England did not give this bowler a chance in its playing XI. After 3 years, the English team has given a chance to that pacer, who has also shown his strength against Team India. The name is - Ollie Stone.
The second match of the Test series between England and Sri Lanka will be played at Lord's from 29 August. In the first Test match held in Manchester, Sri Lanka gave a tough fight to the host team, but still, based on Joe Root's aggressive batting in the fourth innings, England won by 4 wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series. However, during Sri Lanka's second innings, fast bowler Mark Wood got injured, which affected England's bowling. After this, there was news of Wood being out of the entire series.
England had won in Manchester but its path is not going to be easy at Lord's. The reason for this is also the absence of Wood, who had put a lot of pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen in the first Test. Now to fill the void of Wood, England has given a chance to Ollie Stone in the playing XI, who also has a fast pace but he is not as fast as Wood. England announced the playing XI for the second Test on Tuesday 27 August in which there was only one change. Right-handed pacer Stone has been given a chance in place of Wood. In this way, this 30-year-old fast bowler will take the field to play a Test match after a full 3 years. Stone made his Test debut in 2019 and has played only 3 Test matches so far.
He also played a match against Team India, that too in Chennai. Stone impressed in this Test played during England's 2021 tour of India. He troubled Indian opener Shubman Gill in his very first over. He sent Gill back to the pavilion without opening his account in just 3 balls. Stone took 4 wickets in that Test but did not get a chance again. Stone, who plays for Warwickshire County, has taken 10 wickets in 3 Tests. Due to him getting a chance, 6 foot 7-inch tall left-arm pacer Josh Hull will have to wait for his debut, who was included in the squad after Mark Wood was ruled out.
Ollie Pope (captain), Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir and Gus Atkinson.