Stone has a reputation for being one of the fastest bowlers on the county circuit, but what has his path to senior England recognition been like?

Who the hell?

Olly Stone made his county debut aged 17 for Northamptonshire, where he played for six seasons before moving to Warwickshire at the start of 2017. Aged 24, Stone has been on the England radar for some time despite being plagued by a series of serious injuries. His raw pace is equally as exciting for spectators as it is terrifying for opposition batsmen. This season, he has so far averaged an impressive 11.61 with the ball in the second division of the County Championship this season.

What’s his story?

Stone caught the eye during last year’s Finals Day, taking three wickets in their semi-final win over Glamorgan, but 2018 has been his breakthrough year. He’s been a prolific wicket-taker for his county and has played a key part in Warwickshire’s campaign that will, bar a miracle, see them playing Division One of the County Championship next season. It is also worth noting his remarkable strike-rate this season, with his wickets coming every 21.5 deliveries. This includes a best single-innings return of 8-80 against Sussex in April.

Challenges?

His biggest difficulty is likely to be maintaining his pace in the intense heat and humidity he’ll face whilst bowling in Sri Lanka, a tough task for any fast bowler. Keeping fit for a prolonged period of time will also be an aspiration for Stone.

Final word

Speaking to The Guardian, Stone said that he now celebrates his wicket in a much more subdued manner, stating that he simply “greets each wicket with a fist-pump now, rather than jumping in the air”.

He also said that he needed to learn to walk properly again following two complex operations. His recovery was aided after he was allowed access to the underwater treadmills at Aston Villa FC. But his injury clearly has not held him back, as he said: “unless my body tells me to slow down, I don’t think I ever will.”