England pace bowler Olly Stone has unexpectedly returned to the Test team, mostly because of James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s retirements and the management’s insistence on strengthening the pace attack for the Ashes. However, this has come across as an obstacle regarding his wedding plans as well. Notably, Stone is set to marry his fiancee Jess in Norfolk on October 12. However, the obstacle comes in the form of the series opener against Pakistan in Multan, slated to be played from October 7 to 11 as well.
However, the pacer will leave the squad after the first Test, return home for the wedding, and rejoin the team before the second Test, slated to begin on October 15 as well. However, talks with management have encouraged Stone to give it a shot rather than postponing the arrangements as well.
“It’s a bit manic, but a nice problem to have. We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time. When I was back in the England squad, Jess and I were wondering what we should do if I got picked for Pakistan,” Olly Stone said in an interview with BBC Sport.
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“Jess said she was happy to move the wedding and I was adamant on keeping it where it was if possible. For what she has given up and sacrificed for me, I thought the least I could do was to try to make it work. The squad was being picked and Rob said ‘I hear you’re getting married’. I met with him and Brendon McCullum to have a few discussions on how to figure it out. We worked out I could be available for the first Test, go home to get married, then be back in time for the second,” he continued.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility that the Test matches could finish early and that might work in favour of Olly Stone, giving him enough time to travel to England and return to Pakistan again as well.
“If it goes to the last ball on day five, I won’t be hanging around. ’m sure there might be a few aches the next day, but it will be worth it. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I proposed,” Stone said in the same interaction.
