England's Ashes Plans Take a Hit as Olly Stone Suffers Hamstring Injury
Olly Stone has been impressive in his brief Test career (Source: Twitter)
England pacer, Olly Stone, was forced to hobble off the field during the recent drawn match between Nottinghamshire and Lancashire in the County Championship. Stone, who is being considered for the upcoming Ashes squad, sustained a hamstring injury that has raised questions about his availability for the highly anticipated series against Australia.
According to a report by The Guardian, Stone was spotted using crutches while moving around the dressing room. While the severity of his injury remains undisclosed, it seems unlikely that he will be able to recover fully within a month's time.
This development is particularly concerning given that the upcoming Ashes series is a grueling five-match affair, and England Test captain Ben Stokes has requested the availability of eight fully-fit seamers for the duration of the series.
Despite his injury, the Norwich-born cricketer demonstrated immense grit and determination as he returned to the crease to help Nottinghamshire secure a draw with just one wicket to spare. While his admirable effort will be remembered, Stone will have to undergo scans to determine the extent of his injury. It is anticipated that the scan will be conducted in a few days when the inflammation subsides.
The 29-year-old speedster's injury record has been marred by a history of stress fractures, which has been a cause of concern for his career. The pacer had made a successful comeback in 2022 and was primarily playing white-ball cricket since then. It is worth mentioning that the last of his three Test appearances came in June 2021, during the home series against New Zealand.
Stone being a pivotal member of England's bowling attack, his untimely injury could prove to be a significant blow for the hosts. The team's success in the Ashes series will hinge on the availability of its key players, and Stone's injury concerns have raised a few eyebrows amongst fans and experts alike.
It remains to be seen if he will be able to make a swift recovery and be available for selection, but given the nature of his injury history, a cautious approach is expected to be taken by the England medical team.
The Ashes series is scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Australia, who are set to play the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India from June 7, have already announced their squad for the tour of England.
With Stone's participation now in doubt, England will be hoping for positive news regarding his injury and his availability for the Ashes series.
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