Share

England speedster Stone out of West Indies tour

London - England pace bowler Olly Stone will miss the tour of the West Indies after suffering a back injury.

Stone has been hampered by stiffness in his lower left back since taking part in a practice session on Sunday.

The 25-year-old went for scans in Barbados that confirmed the extent of the injury was serious enough to rule him out of the Tests against the West Indies.

Stone had hoped to make his Test debut in the three-match series, but the Warwickshire seamer will have to wait for his maiden five-day appearance.

"Following the result of scans, Olly Stone has sustained a bone stress injury to the left lower back. He will return home from the Caribbean later this week and have further tests in the UK," a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

Stone impressed with his speed and hostility during four appearances in England's one-day series win against Sri Lanka in October.

But the back problem is the latest injury blow for Stone, who saw his promising career interrupted for 18 months with an anterior cruciate ligament problem.

He has been restricted to just 34 first-class matches since debuting in 2012.

Ashley Giles, previously director of cricket at Warwickshire and recently appointed to the equivalent role with the ECB, warned selectors last year not to work Stone too hard.

He described the player as a "Ferrari" and cautioned against his over-use.

England have yet to name a replacement but the likes of Jamie Overton, Jamie Porter and Mark Wood are likely to come under consideration by selectors.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE