Olly Stone to Miss Start of English Summer After Undergoing Knee Surgery
England fast bowler Olly Stone has been ruled out of all forms of cricket for the next 14 weeks after undergoing right knee surgery, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday.
London: England fast bowler Olly Stone has been ruled out of all forms of cricket for the next 14 weeks after undergoing right knee surgery, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday.
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Discomfort During Pre-Season Tour Led to Surgery
Stone experienced increasing discomfort in his right knee during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi last month. Medical scans conducted this week confirmed the need for surgical intervention.
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“He will now begin a period of rehabilitation, working closely with the medical teams at both the ECB and Nottinghamshire,” the ECB said in an official statement.
Targeting Full Fitness by August 2025
The 31-year-old pacer will miss the beginning of the English summer, with hopes of returning to full fitness by August 2025. Stone last represented England in an ODI series against Australia last year, following two Test appearances against Sri Lanka.
Facing Tough Competition for England Comeback
Stone faces intense competition from fellow quicks such as Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer for a spot in Brendon McCullum’s pace attack. With the Ashes series in Australia just seven months away, every opportunity is crucial.
Despite taking 17 wickets in five Test matches, Stone has only featured against Australia in 50-over cricket, with his best figures being 4-85 in Melbourne (Nov 2022).
Recent Stint with Dubai Capitals as Preparation
His last competitive appearance came for the Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 held in Sharjah earlier this year, as preparation for his planned red-ball return with Nottinghamshire in April.
Rotation Key to England’s Success, Says Stone
In a statement to the BBC in January, Stone emphasized the importance of rotation among England’s fast bowlers.
“There are some people freakish enough to play all those games, but we know as a unit we’ll need to rotate. The fresher we are, the better the chance of England winning,” he said.
“If there’s a crop of us fast bowlers fit and firing for the Ashes down under, it gives us the best chance to hopefully bring the Ashes home.”
England’s Summer Cricket Calendar
England will kick off their home summer with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Nottingham (May 22), followed by a six-match white-ball series against the West Indies. The major challenge awaits against India, with a five-Test series starting June 20 in Leeds.
