After Mark Wood, Another England Star Ruled Out Of India Tests With Injury

Olly Stone continues to be tormented by injuries as the tearaway quick has been ruled out of the entirety of England’s home summer after undergoing knee surgery.

A genuinely quick seamer who can bowl in the 140s, Stone has been groomed by England as an enforcer with one eye on the away Ashes, but his prospects of featuring in whites this year have taken a serious hit with the latest injury.

“Stone experienced increasing discomfort during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi last month. Further scans conducted this week revealed the need for surgery,” the ECB said in a release, confirming that the 31-year-old will be out of action for at least 14 weeks.

“He will now begin a period of rehabilitation, working closely with the medical teams at both the ECB and Nottinghamshire. As a result, Stone will miss the start of the English summer but is targeting a return to full fitness by August 2025.”

It means that England will have two tearaway quicks - Stone and Mark Wood - unavailable for the five-Test series against India at home which starts in June. 

It remains to be seen if the bout of injuries will force the Three Lions to go back to Jofra Archer, who has not played Test cricket in four years. Earlier this year, head coach Brendon McCullum said that England haven’t fully ruled out the possibility of picking Archer for a few Tests during the home summer.