Fast bowler Olly Stone has been roped in to fill in the injured Mark Wood’s shoes for England’s second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, beginning on August 29. The hosts have made this alteration with the intention of maintaining the momentum that was instrumental to their resounding win in the series opener at Old Trafford.
Mark Wood’s unfortunate exit from the series due to a thigh injury sustained during the third day of the first Test has forced England to make adjustments. Leicestershire’s promising quick Josh Hull was originally called up to replace Wood.
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The team management, however, has decided on Stone’s fine experience to lead the team for the crucial Lord’s Test, thus giving precedence to seasoned skills over the uncapped Hull. Stone was a participant in the first squad, but was released before the series began. He has vast experience which he can bring to England’s squad.
JUST IN: Olly Stone will play his first Test in three years, replacing the injured Mark Wood in England’s XI to face Sri Lanka at Lord’s 🏴 #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/dJeDB7S383
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 27, 2024
The hard-bowling 30-year-old fast bowler has a splendid record of dismissing 10 batsmen in three Test matches at an impressive average of 19.40. With a reputation for pace and bounce, the Lord’s pitch is Stone’s perfect match as it has always been the seamers’ paradise.
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England’s starting eleven will remain the same except for Dan Lawrence’s spot on top of the line-up following his 30 and 34 scores from the first Test. Charging ahead in the absence of regular captain Ben Stokes and opener Zak Crawley, both sidelined due to injury, the English team is now focused on prolonging their winning streak and securing another victory in the series against Sri Lanka.
England’s playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka
Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir
