What to do while you warm the bench during a hot away tour? ‘Marriage’ is the answer for England pacer Olly Stone, who will fly to his country during the ongoing three-match Test series against Pakistan. The 30-year-old planned his wedding prior to the Pakistan tour, and his non-selection in the first Multan Test has allowed Stone to commence his wedding ceremony this weekend.
Stone to miss 2nd PAK vs ENG Test?
According to ESPNcricinfo, Olly Stone’s wedding is scheduled to happen this week. However, England and Pakistan will commence their second Test in Multan on Tuesday, October 15. This means Stone is all but likely to miss the second Test as well. He was already ignored for the first Test, with Brendon McCullum choosing Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse as his three pacers.
Stone, who recently made a comeback to Test cricket after a three-year hiatus, had initially planned to extend his stay in Pakistan. However, due to his wedding commitments, he will be flying back to England earlier than expected. He had impressed in his recent Test series against Sri Lanka, claiming seven wickets in two matches. However, his absence might not leave a big void for England as they already have another talented pace bowler in Matthew Potts.
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This will, however, leave the 15-member England squad one man short. The Three Lions are having a bad Test match so far. After being put to bowl first, England toiled for almost 150 overs for two hot days in Multan, where they leaked 556 runs in the first innings. Abdullah Shafique (102), Shan Masood (151) and Salman Ali Agha (104*) all scored centuries, while Jack Leach bagged a three-wicket haul.
Regardless, England’s management expressed their understanding and support for Stone’s decision. Given his non-inclusion in the latest batch of central contracts and the long-standing wedding plans, they have agreed to allow him to prioritize his personal commitments over a grueling Test series.
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